Ptychocheilus lucius Girard, 1856
Colorado pikeminnow
Ptychocheilus lucius
photo by The Native Fish Conservancy

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Laviniinae
Max. size:  180 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 12 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater, potamodromous
Distribution:  North America: Colorado River drainage in USA (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California) and Mexico. Now mostly restricted to Utah and Colorado; and extirpated from the southern portion of the range by the construction of large dams.
Diagnosis:  Anal soft rays: 9-9. Scales very small with 76-97, usually 80-87 scales on lateral line and 18-23 scales above lateral line; dorsal fin usually with 9 rays; anal fin with 9 rays (Ref. 86798).
Biology:  Inhabits pools of medium to large rivers. Large individuals usually occur in deep, flowing rocky or sandy pools (Ref. 86798).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 11 April 2012 (D2) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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