Fish · GBIF taxon 2365441
River Chub
Nocomis micropogonMale river chubs construct prominent gravel mounds on riverbeds during spring spawning, carrying thousands of individual stones in their mouths. These river engineering projects create vital spawning habitat not only for the chubs themselves, but also for dozens of other native stream fish species. Recognized by their stout bodies, golden-olive sheen, and small barbel at the corner of the mouth, these energetic minnows thrive in clear, moderate-flow streams across eastern North America.
FreshwaterMound BuilderKeystone Species
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mayfly Nymphs
- Caddisfly Larvae
- Crayfish
Predators
- Smallmouth Bass
- Great Blue Heron
- Northern Pike
ThreatsSiltation, agricultural runoff, and river impoundment
HabitatsClear streams and small to medium rivers with gravel or cobble bottoms
Life span3–5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCypriniformes
- FamilyCyprinidae
- GenusNocomis
- SpeciesNocomis micropogon
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Polarized Lenses: Wear polarized sunglasses to spot their gravel mounds clearly in shallow river currents.
- Spawning Season: Look for active mound building in clear swift water during spring and early summer.
Frequent Companion (c) Zakqary Roy, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zakqary Roy · cc-by
Predator USFWS Mountain Prairie / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) moxostoma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by moxostoma · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
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