Blue Sucker. The Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) is a host fish for Texas Hornshell glochidia (Xxxxxx et al. 2012). Historically, the Blue Sucker occupied the Pecos River north of Carlsbad downstream to the New Mexico/Texas border and the lower Black River (NMDGF 2014). The Blue Sucker has declined throughout much of its native range. It has further declined since 2002 in the Pecos River, in part due to the effects from Golden Algae blooms, from Xxxxxxxx Reservoir downstream (NMDGF 2014). It is likely extirpated from the Pecos River and the status of the population in the Black River is unknown (NMDGF 2014). The Blue Sucker was listed as “endangered” by the NMDGF in 1976 (NMDGF 2014). It is also a BLM sensitive species as listed in BLM Manual 6840 (BLM 2008). Threats to the species include range fragmentation by dams, water contamination, Golden Algae blooms, and water quality changes in the Black River drainage (NMDGF 2014). Pecos Springsnail Springsnails are tiny mollusks with conical shaped shells that range in color from gray to light brown. The Pecos Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis pecosensis), which has been listed as a state “threatened” species by the NMDGF since 1983, historically occupied only Blue Springs and Castle Springs associated with the Black River in Eddy County, New Mexico. The species has since been extirpated from Castle Springs (NMDGF 2014). Threats to the Pecos Springsnail include water diversion, drought, underground pumping of water, pollution from oil and gas exploration and production, and poor range management (NMDGF 1996).
Blue Sucker. The Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) is a host fish for Texas Hornshell glochidia (Xxxxxx et al. 2012). Historically, the Blue Sucker occupied the Pecos River north of Carlsbad downstream to the New Mexico/Texas border and the lower Black River (NMDGF 2014). The Blue Sucker has declined throughout much of its native range. It has further declined since 2002 in the Pecos River, in part due to the effects from Golden Algae blooms, from Xxxxxxxx LakeReservoir downstream (NMDGF 2014). It is likely extirpated from the Pecos River and the status of the population in the Black River is unknown (NMDGF 2014). The Blue Sucker was listed as “endangered” by the NMDGF in 1976 (NMDGF 2014). Threats to the species include range fragmentation by dams, water contamination, Golden Algae blooms, and water quality changes in the Black River drainage (NMDGF 2014).
