Gila elegans
Bonytail
Federal:
Endangered
NS
G1
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Cypriniformes (Carps and Minnows)
Cyprinidae (Carps and Minnows)
Gila
Gila elegans (Bonytail)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. Gila elegans can be distinguished from similar species Gila cypha by having terminal mouth, angle along anal fin base continues well above caudal fin, more slender caudal peduncle, smaller hump on nape, usually dorsal fin with 10 rays; and 75-99 scales on lateral line. Breeding males with red lower side and pectoral and anal-fin bases (Ref. 86798).
Distribution
North America: Colorado River drainage in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and California in USA; and Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. benthopelagic. Found in: streams.
Biology
Inhabits flowing pools and backwaters, usually over mud or rock. Streamlined body may suggest occasional occurrence in swift runs (Ref. 86798).
Max length: 62.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders.
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR), assessed 2012-02-08. Resilience: Very low (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
References
Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch (1991) Aquarien Atlas. Band. 1. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 992 p.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (1991) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (2011) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 663p.
Comments On Gila elegans