Carp & Sucker
Bonytail Chub
Gila elegans
FreshwaterCyprinidaeEndangered
About
The Bonytail Chub is a slender, streamlined fish characterized by its small head, nearly cylindrical body, and a long, thin caudal peduncle. It is adapted for life in fast-flowing river environments and exhibits schooling behavior, especially during spawning.
- Average size
- 10-16 inches, up to 20 inches in rare cases
- Colors
- Olive-green to brownish-gray on the back, silvery sides, and a white belly. Fins are typically dusky or yellowish.
- Diet
- Historically consumed algae, insects, and other invertebrates. In altered habitats, they may consume whatever is available, including detritus and small fish.
- Region
- Colorado River Basin (historically), now primarily found in managed refuges and reintroduction sites in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.