Little Colorado spinedace

Lepidomeda vittata

SPECIES CODE: E04M V01

STATUS:

Listed Threatened with Critical Habitat on September 16, 1987 (52 FR 35034 35041). Recovery Plan completed on January 9, 1998.

Note: All descriptions are abstracted from the Federal Register (1987) and the Recovery Plan (1998).

SPECIES DESCRIPTION:

The Little Colorado spinedace is a member of the Cyprinidae family and is typically less than 10cm long. The species is predacious feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects, as well as filamentous green algae.

REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:

Spawning occurs primarily in the summer, but continues until fall. Spawning occurs in slow current over cobbles.

RANGE AND POPULATION LEVEL:

The species is endemic to the upper portions of the Little Colorado River and to its north flowing, permanent tributaries on the Mogollon Rim and the northern slopes of the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. The Little Colorado spinedace historically occurred throughout the upper portions of the Little Colorado River drainage, but is now found only in portions of East Clear, Chevelon, Silver, and Nutrioso Creeks and the Little Colorado River in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache Counties, Arizona.

HABITAT:

The species inhabits small to moderate sized streams and is characteristically found in pools with water flowing over fine gravel and silt-mud substrates. During periods of drought, spinedace are believed to persist in springs and intermittent streambed pools; and during flooding they tend to distribute themselves throughout the stream.

PAST THREATS:

The decline of this species results from habitat alteration and loss due to impoundment, removal of water from the streams, channelization, grazing, road building, urban growth, and other human activities. The decline is also related to the introduction and spread of exotic predatory and competitive fish species, and the use of ichthyotoxins in many of its native streams.

CURRENT THREATS:

Threats to the survival of spinedace include changes in stream flow patterns decline in water quality and quantity, modifications of watersheds (logging, dams, road construction), manipulations of fish populations (use of chemicals and others) and interactions with introduced fishes.

Changes in population density between years may be attributed to climatic conditions such as drought or increased rainfall.

CONSERVATION MEASURES:

LITERATURE CITED:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Final Rule to Determine Lepidomeda vittata (Little Colorado Spinedace) To Be a Threatened Species with Critical Habitat. Federal Register (52) 179: 35034-35041.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Little Colorado River spinedace, Lepidomeda vittata Recovery Plan. Albuquerque NM. 51pp.