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- Title
Description, Biology and Distribution of the Spotfin Chub, Hybopsis monacha, a Threatened Cyprinid Fish of the Tennessee River Drainage.
- Authors
Jenkins, Robert E.; Burkhead, Noel M.
- Abstract
Anatomy and color of the distinctive spotfin chub, Hybopsis monacha (Cope), are described in detail for the first time. This species currently is in the subgenus Erimystax, but Erimonax may warrant resurrection as a subgenus for its sole reception. The following appear to be closely linked phyletically: H. monacha, Erimystax s. s., additional eclectic species and species-groups presently in Hybopsis, the genus Phenacobius, and the subgenus Cyprinella of Notropis. Major food items of H. monacha are benthic immature insects, primarily Diptera. Maximum longevity is about three years, maximum known size 89.5 mm SL; males attain larger size than females. Spawning probably extends from May into August. Number of ripe ova present in females at one lime (150-800; 0.8-1.4 mm diameter) increases with size of female, but may greatly underestimate fecundity in one spawning season if H. monacha is a fractional spawner. Hybopsis monacha typically inhabits medium to large, relatively clean, warm streams. It is closely associated with riffles and runs with various largely unsilted substrate types. During the past 100 years, it was generally rare or uncommon. The spotfin chub is endemic to the Tennessee River drainage, in which it had a wide range: five states, four physiographic provinces, and 12 tributary systems. It has disappeared from most of this range, being extant and localized in only four systems: Lillie Tennessee, North Carolina; Duck and Emory, Tennessee; and North Fork Holston, Tennessee and Virginia. Probable or possible reasons for reduction or extirpation of populations include impoundments, cold tailwaters, channelization, pollution, turbidity, siltation, stream renovation by ichthyocide, localized intensive collecting, and interspecific competition. The spotfin chub merits protection status of Threatened nationally, as designated in 1977.
- Subjects
CHUB mackerel; FISH bioenergetics; CLASSIFICATION of fish; MARINE biology research; TURBIDITY currents; ERIMYSTAX
- Publication
Bulletin of the Alabama Museum of Natural History, 1984, Issue 8, p1
- ISSN
0196-1039
- Publication type
Article