Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Leuciscidae (Minnows) > Laviniinae
Etymology: Gila: A river flowing from Southwest New Mexico westward across south Arizona into the Colorado River.
More on authors: Baird & Girard.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical; 44°N - 28°N
North America: Colorado River drainage in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, USA (Ref. 86798); also Rio Yaqui south to Rio Piaxtla in northwestern Mexico (Ref. 5723).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 43.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. reported age: 8 years (Ref. 12193)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal soft rays: 9. Body deep and compressed. Head flat. Caudal peduncle slender. Caudal fin large and forked. Angle along base of the anal fin continues into the middle of the caudal fin. Mouth terminal, extending to front of eye. Dark olive-gray above, silver side. Breeding male may develop red or orange on lower half of cheek and paired-fin bases; Lateral line with 71-99 scales, usually more than 78. Dorsal and anal fins with 9 rays. First gill arch with 10 or more rakers. Pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2 (Ref. 86798).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Inhabits rocky runs, sometimes pools, of creeks and small to large rivers as well as impoundments. May hybridize with Gila cypha throughout their shared range except in Yampa River (Ref. 86798).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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. (Ref. 86798)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00439 - 0.02869), b=3.04 (2.82 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.2 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=8).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100).
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