Today, specimens rarely exceed 5 pounds. Colorado pikeminnow are known for long-distance spawning migrations of more than 200 miles in late spring and early summer. Endangered status: The Colorado pikeminnow is listed as threatened in Colorado and endangered federally. A broadly based coalition of partners established the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program in 1988. No other pikeminnow, such as the Sacramento pikeminnow or the northern pikeminnow is threatened or endangered. The young-of-the year colorado pikeminnows tend to congregate into receding backwaters that are formed in late summer. None of these other species has been known to grow to the size of the Colorado pikeminnow. Colorado pikeminnow Natural History. Essential habitats, including primary migration routes and required stream flows are legally protected. Adult Colorado pikeminnow collected on the Green River in Desolation Canyon, Utah. The Colorado pikeminnow has been protected under Utah law since 1973. After hatching, young pikeminnow larvae, drift downstream and then move to shoreline areas and backwaters. Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) Status: Endangered. Maintain populations in Green River and upper Colorado River subbasins (“no net loss”), Green River subbasin population > 2,600 adults, Upper Colorado River subbasin population > 700 adults, Establish 1,000 age-5+ subadults in San Juan River. given full protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. General Information | Events & News | Documents & Publications | The Colorado pikeminnow is the largest minnow in North America and is an endangered, native fish of the Colorado River thought to have evolved more than 3 million years ago. SIZE: The common length of the Colorado pikeminnow is 52.5 cm (20.7 in) with the longest reported length being 180 cm (70.9 in). Colorado pikeminnow are a migratory species. Sperm were collected from a captive broodstock population of Colorado pikeminnow reared and maintained at the Dexter National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center. Today, two wild populations of Colorado pikeminnow are found in the Upper Colorado River Basin – one in the upper Colorado River system and one in the Green River system. Dale Stewart of Vernal, Utah, caught a 25-pound Colorado pikeminnow in 1937. The maximum reported age for the Colorado pikeminnow is 12 years. Colorado pikeminnow spotlight species action plan (.8MB PDF) 07/27/2006 : Colorado Pikeminnow - Recovery Goals (22MB PDf) 08/28/2002 : Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) Recovery Plan (Amendment and Supplement for Recovery Goals) (22MB PDF) It appears that Colorado pikeminnows seek out river canyons that receive freshwater input from groundwater seeping from sandstone or limestone. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Just as it approaches recovery, the endangered Colorado pikeminnow faces a new threat, a predator that eagerly scarfs down young pikeminnow, taking a jagged bite out of the species' overall numbers. Just as it approaches recovery, the endangered Colorado pikeminnow faces a new threat, a predator that eagerly scarfs down young pikeminnow, … (Also see: Historical perspective.) Today, the bonytail is among North America’s most endangered fish species. Called the “white salmon” by early settlers due to its migratory behavior, the Colorado pikeminnow has a torpedo-shaped body and a large, toothless mouth. The northern pikeminnow also preys effectively on sport fish, and often becomes the dominant species in reservoirs, despite biologists’ efforts to limit their population size. //--> We developed methods for the cryopreservation of sperm of the endangered Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius. The Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "fishes" and found in the following area(s): Arizona, California, Colorado, Mexico, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming. “You can see how you cut steaks off that thing,” he said. Actions being taken to recover the Colorado pikeminnow include: Colorado pikeminnow will be considered eligible for downlisting from “endangered” to “threatened” and for removal from Endangered Species Act protection (delisting) when all of the following conditions are met: In addition to the Colorado pikeminnow, there are three other species of pikeminnow in the United States: the Sacramento pikeminnow, Umpqua pikeminnow and northern or Columbia River pikeminnow. Efforts underway to restock Colorado pikeminnow in the San Juan River basin appear to be successful. This program focuses on 4 species of fish: humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker. Adult pikeminnows return to previous spawning sites. Scientific Name: Ptchocheilus lucius. For example, the northern pikeminnow originally evolved in lakes and appears to adapt easily to reservoirs. Listed as endangered under Colorado law in 1976; status changed to threatened in 1998. The Colorado pikeminnow is extirpated from Grand Canyon, with the last verified record in 1972. Biologists sample for young endangered fish to measure the adult’s reproductive success. The Colorado Pikeminnow had nowhere to hide. The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program continues to stock Colorado pikeminnow with the purpose of developing a new, separate, self-sustaining population. After the completion of the dams, the species was unable to … time to achieve recovery of the endangered Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), according to Section 4(f)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. 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