SPECIES BIOLOGY §Pecies Naze
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• FWS Region # ENDAYGERED SPECIES INFORMATION SYSTEM SPECIES WORKBOOK PART II - SPECIES BIOLOGY §Pecies Naze: Common Name: Killifish Pahrump Empetcichthys latos latos Miller Scientific Name: Workbook Compiler: Name: James E. Deacon Address: Department of Biological Sciences University of Nevada, Las Vegas 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154 (702) 739-3275 Phone: Date: November 12. 1985 0******************44***4*****111**************************************0411***** Verified: Regional Advisor: Date: 1. TAXONOMY 1.A. Taxonomy - Nomenclature Federal Register Common Name: Killifish, Pahrump Federal Register Scientific Name (Genus species subsp./var./author): For plants use complete trinomial with subspecies/variety indicated. For animals use complete binomial with subspecies/variety followed by taxonomic author and date. Empetrichthys latos Miller Phylum/Division: Chordata Class: Osteichthys Order: Cyprinodontiformes Family: Goodeidae 1.B. Taxonomy - Narrative Begin this narrative with a brief morphological description of the species. Follow this with a discussion on any variations or disagreements on species identification, classification, and/or nomenclature. Include common synonyms found in literature (past or present) or used in other data bases. For animals, indicate taxonomic author and date with the binomial. Provide the appropriate reference codes for all information, and record the complete citation in Section 5. Finally, record locations of type specimens and/or references to descriptions, photographs, drawings, or collections which may be useful for species identification. Type the narrative beginning in the space below. This species was originally described by Miller (19) who states that "there are 143 paratypes, U.M.M.Z. No. 140489, 15 to 48mm. long, taken with the holotype at Manse Ranch, and 34 paratypes, U.M.M.Z., 10-50 mm., collected by R.R. Miller and Alex J. Calhoun on July 16, 1938, from the outlet of the main spring pool" at Manse Ranch. These and additional specimens are maintained at the Uni- versity of Michigan Museum of Zoology. The species was originally not recognized as distinct and was therefore included by Gilbert (12) in his description of E. merriami. According to Miller (19), this species is relatively slender "with a gently sloping to convex predorsal profile, a relatively short and slender head, a comparatively broad mouth, a weak mandible, and usually 31 or 32 scales in the lateral series." The sides are marked by a narrow axial streak and there are 12-13 anal rays. "Empetrichthys latos differs from E. merriami principally in mouth structure, body shape and color pattern." In E. latos the mouth is wider and the bones of the premaxillary and mandible are weaker and less firmly connected. The head Taxonomy Narrative (cont.) of E. latos is not as deep and the body not as thick as in E. merriami. As is -- true ori few other isolated desert fishes, E. latos has lost TIT-TiMe fin. While specific and subspecific definitions of E. latos latos Miller have not changedsince they were described (19), placement of the genus in higher taxonomic categories has been an unsolved problem for years. When described, Empetrichthys were placed in the Cyprinodontidae. Jordan and Evermann (13) in- cluded the genus within their expanded family Poeciliidae. Eigenmann (11) placed Empetrichthys in the distinct family Orestiidae. Jordan, Evermann and Clark (14) placed the genus in the new family Empetrichthyidae. Myers (18) returned the genus to the Cyprinodoatidae where it remained until 1981 when Parenti (21) placed the genus into family Goodeidae. The species is illustrated in Soltz and Naiman (23). 11-3 (cont.) 2.REASONS FOR STATUS Check the general reasons for the status of this species. Habitat destruction or alteration Overutilization by man Disease or predation Inadequate regulatory mechanisms Other natural or manmade factors 2.A. Reasons for Status - Narrative: Develop a narrative describing the past and present reasons for the current status of the species; that is, those factors that are or have been 'detrimental to the species. Indicate which factors are still considered threatening to the population. Describe variations over .Ame as well as any significant variations by geographic region. Briefly describe in a separate paragraph any future preceived threats to the species. Do not mark these future threats on the checklist on the following page. Provide appropriate reference codes for all information, and record the citations in Section 5. Type the narrative in the space below. Habitat destruction is regarded as the primary reason for the endangered status of the Pahrump killifish. Excess pumping of groundwater for irrigation is seen as the primary cause of habitat destruction (03,20,23). Development of ground- water for irrigation in Pahrump Valley began in the early 1900's. Flow of the three major springs in the valley (each containing a distinct subspecies of Pahrump killifish) declined as groundwater pumping increased. Two of the three springs ceased to flow in the mid-1950's and their contained populations of Pahrump killifish became extinct. The third spring, Manse Spring, ceased flow in 1975 (23). In August, 1971,29 Pahrump killifish from Manse Spring were transplanted into Corn Creek Spring in the Las Vegas Valley (03). With continued management, this population has been sustained since that time (03,04,05,06,07). On March 9, 1972, 16 Pahrump killifish (from Corn Creek or Manse Spring?) were introduced into one (middle?) of the nearly-completed ponds at Shoshone Ponds, White Pine Co., Nevada, about 50 km S.E. of Ely, Nevada, in the NE i of S2, T12NR57E. Eight of these fish were transferred to the south pond on 26 September 1972, but the fish were not observed in either pond after Spring 1974 (17): On August 31, 1976, 50 Pahrump killifish were transferred from Corn Creek Spring into Shoshone North Pond (15). Subsequently, the species was transferred into two other ponds in the Shoshone Ponds complex. It presently maintains repro- ducing populations in 3 of the 5 Shoshone Ponds. On June 9, 1983, 426 Pahrump killifish from Corn Creek Spring were introduced into the irrigation reservoir at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Clark Co., Nevada(05). The population reproduced and has maintained itself through at least May, 1985 (02). All native habitats of the Pahrump killifish have been destroyed. Transplanted populations of the species persist at Corn Creek, Shoshone Ponds and Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. All of these habitats are likely to require 2.A. Reasons for Status - Narrative: (continued) management intervention to maintain healthy populations. Mosquitofish at Corn Creek were the apparent cause of an extremely depressed population of Pahrump killifish on at least two occasions. They have been eliminated at present, but could be reintroduced at any time. An artesian well supplies water to the Shoshone Ponds. It must be maintained to insure that the water supply remains reliable. At Spring Moun...ain Ranch State Park reintroduction of other fishes must be prevented. In addition, the winter cooling of water renders the killifish inactive for extended periods and presumably could, under extreme conditions, result in winter mortality. 11-5 (continued) 3. HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS 3.A. Habitat Associations - Narrative The object of this section is to describe the habitats in which this snecies occurs and also those which if disturbed would adverselv immact the species. Develop a complete and concise narrative on this species' habitat associations and preferences. Specifically describe its associations with forests, rangelands, agriculture lands, wetlands, unique features, etc. Be sure to describe any significant variations which may occur in different life stages, seasons, or geographic regions. Devote a section of the narrative to the specific environmental parameters required by the species; e.g., temperature, pH, alkalinity, turbidity, dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, flow rates, velocity, salinity, depth/ trophogenic zone, elevation, slope, aspect, soil texture/moisture, soil profile, burrow or cavity requirements, continuous forest stand size, percentage ground cover, canopy closure, cover height. Provide the appropriate reference codes for all information, and record the citations in Section 5. Also, indicate areas where the information is unknown to the scientific community. Type the narrative beginning in the space below. Note: In developing this narrative, it may be useful to be aware of the types of information that will be required by the summary checklists in Section 3.B. The Pahrump killifish no longer exists in the type 0-locality at Manse Ranch, Nye County, Nevada, having been extirpated from that site in the mid-1970's. Two other natural habitats in Pahrump Valley, Nevada, were destroyed in the This species is now maintained in three refugia, Corn Creek Springs, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and Shoshone Ponds. All three areas are bordered by natural desert vegetation and are protected from excessive public disturbance. Corn Creek Springs on the desert Game Range is located about 40 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada. The aquatic system is composed of a concrete trough about 100 meters long from the spring sources to the first and largest of three ponds. Submerged and emergent vegetattpn in the trough is restricted to some willow roots and a small growth of Myrbphyllum sp. about midway along the channel. The first pond is roughly 80 meters long by about 25 meters wide