The Mohave tui chub (Siphateles bicolor mohavensis, Snyder 1918) is a member of the “Barbel-lipped Minnows” or Cyp
rinidae family of fishes—along with carp, goldfish, dace, shiners, and squawfish. Other members of the genus Siphateles, 12 species and 13 subspecies in all, are found in water bodies throughout the Great Basin and adjacent drainages of western North America. Mohave tui chub are small, with large heads and mouths, having stocky bodies fish supported by short, soft, rounded fins that are olive to yellow-reddish-brown. Older chub sometimes develop a characteristic hump behind their heads. Chub have toothless jaws with almost rubber-like lips. Their scales are “cycloid” with smooth, circ
ular, or concentric, lines of growth—similar to tree rings. Chub can also be recognized by the dark net-like pattern around the scales. In color, they are bright brassy-brown to dusky-olive dorsally, with side that support a fine speckling gold, and a belly that is bluish-white to silver. Their size and length seems to vary depending on water quality and quantity. For a minnow, the Mohave tui chub can be considered “mid-sized”, typically ranging between 2 and 6½ inches in length. It is hard to tell the sexes apart; however females tend to grow larger and adult, reproductive males have a prominent patch of tubercles on the top of the head behind eyes and above their pectorial fins. These tubercles could be used to initiate egg release as the male rubs his snout against the area below the female's pelvic fins. Female chubs can reach up to 8 ½ inches in length.
rinidae family of fishes—along with carp, goldfish, dace, shiners, and squawfish. Other members of the genus Siphateles, 12 species and 13 subspecies in all, are found in water bodies throughout the Great Basin and adjacent drainages of western North America. Mohave tui chub are small, with large heads and mouths, having stocky bodies fish supported by short, soft, rounded fins that are olive to yellow-reddish-brown. Older chub sometimes develop a characteristic hump behind their heads. Chub have toothless jaws with almost rubber-like lips. Their scales are “cycloid” with smooth, circ
ular, or concentric, lines of growth—similar to tree rings. Chub can also be recognized by the dark net-like pattern around the scales. In color, they are bright brassy-brown to dusky-olive dorsally, with side that support a fine speckling gold, and a belly that is bluish-white to silver. Their size and length seems to vary depending on water quality and quantity. For a minnow, the Mohave tui chub can be considered “mid-sized”, typically ranging between 2 and 6½ inches in length. It is hard to tell the sexes apart; however females tend to grow larger and adult, reproductive males have a prominent patch of tubercles on the top of the head behind eyes and above their pectorial fins. These tubercles could be used to initiate egg release as the male rubs his snout against the area below the female's pelvic fins. Female chubs can reach up to 8 ½ inches in length.
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