Texas - Clear Creek Gambusia - Gambusia Heterochir

	Clear Creek Gambusia - Gambusia Heterochir
STATUS: Endangered without critical habitat. DESCRIPTION: A small (1.2-1.3 in.), viviparous (live-bearing) fish. Stocky, with a metallic sheen. Scattered, terminal dark amrks on some lateral or dorsal scales form distinctive crescent-shaped marks. No predorsal streak, caudal speckling, or yellow pigment on dorsal or ana fins. males are distinguished from all other poeciliid fish by a deep notch in the dorsal margin of the pectoral fin. HABITAT: Springs with Clear, stenothermal (temperature in Clear Creek is 20°C.), low pH (6.1-6.5) waters and abundant aquatic vegetation composed mostly of an Ceratophyllum sp.. DISTRIBUTION: Present: Headspring pool of Clear Creek, Menard County, Texas. Historic: Clear Creek, Menard County, Texas, in the San Saba River drainage. THREATS AND/OR REASONS FOR DECLINE:Habitat alteration, hybridization and competition with G. affinis, groundwater depletion, and limited distribution. OTHER INFORMATION: Recovery plan completed in 1984. The Clear Creek Gambusia is closely associated with Ceratophyllum sp. (aquatic plant), and Hyalella texana (an amphipod on which G. heterochir feeds). In Clear Creek, females reproduce from March to September with an interbrood interval of about 60 days. REFERENCES: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. August 1992. Threatened and Endangered Species of Texas. Endangered Species Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Clear Creek Gambusia - Gambusia Heterochir

STATUS: Endangered without critical habitat.

DESCRIPTION: A small (1.2-1.3 in.), viviparous (live-bearing) fish. Stocky, with a metallic sheen. Scattered, terminal dark amrks on some lateral or dorsal scales form distinctive crescent-shaped marks. No predorsal streak, caudal speckling, or yellow pigment on dorsal or ana fins. males are distinguished from all other poeciliid fish by a deep notch in the dorsal margin of the pectoral fin.

HABITAT: Springs with Clear, stenothermal (temperature in Clear Creek is 20°C.), low pH (6.1-6.5) waters and abundant aquatic vegetation composed mostly of an Ceratophyllum sp..

DISTRIBUTION:

Present: Headspring pool of Clear Creek, Menard County, Texas.
Historic: Clear Creek, Menard County, Texas, in the San Saba River drainage.

THREATS AND/OR REASONS FOR DECLINE:Habitat alteration, hybridization and competition with G. affinis, groundwater depletion, and limited distribution.
OTHER INFORMATION: Recovery plan completed in 1984. The Clear Creek Gambusia is closely associated with Ceratophyllum sp. (aquatic plant), and Hyalella texana (an amphipod on which G. heterochir feeds). In Clear Creek, females reproduce from March to September with an interbrood interval of about 60 days.
REFERENCES:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. August 1992. Threatened and Endangered Species of Texas. Endangered Species Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico