Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish

Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes

SPECIES CODE: E042 V01

STATUS:

Listed as Endangered with Critical Habitat on September 2, 1983 (48 FR 40178 40186). Recovery Plan completed on September 28, 1990.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION:

C. n. mionectes is a member of the Cyprinodontidae family. The species grows to a maximum of two inches.

REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:

Very little is known about this species’ life history.

RANGE AND POPULATION LEVEL:

C. n. mionectes is found only in 10 spring areas within the Ash Meadows, Nye County, Nevada. It is established outside of its native range in clay ponds located approximately 3.75 miles west of the Area of Management Concern boundary (Baugh et al. 1986). Most of these habitats lie on public land within the boundaries of Ash Meadows Refuge and include spring sources and outflow channels occupied by the species.

HABITAT:

The species occupies headwater spring pools as well as outflow creeks 2km or more distant, marshes connected to spring systems, and ephemeral pools formed by spring water.

PAST THREATS:

The species’ habitat provides most of the surface water in the area, and has been altered for agricultural purposes and development. All have been altered by diversion into earthen or concrete channels, impoundment, drying due to pumping of local ground waters, and/or elimination of riparian vegetation during ground leveling. This has resulted in habitat loss and lowering of the water level.

CURRENT THREATS:

Past threats remain.

CONSERVATION MEASURES:

LITERATURE CITED:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Determination of Endangered Status and Critical habitats for Two Fish Species in Ash Meadows, Nevada.