Species Description. The least chub is a small cyprinid less than 6.35 cm, characterized by a very oblique mouth, large scales (34 to 38 along the side) and absence of a lateral line (rarely with one or two pored scales). It has a deeply compressed body, the pharyngeal teeth are in two rows, 2,5-4,2, the dorsal origin lies behind the insertion of the pelvic fin and the caudal peduncle is slender. The dorsal fin rays number eight or rarely nine, and it has eight anal fin rays (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1963)(Fig. 3).
Species Description. The Pallid Shiner is a small, slender (about three inches in length), schooling minnow. The upper body is yellow or yellow green and the scales on the upper body have dark edges. The sides are silver and there is a dark lateral stripe that extends from its tail through the eye and onto the snout. Its snout is blunt and extends far beyond its upper lip, and its mouth is small and almost horizontal. Its dorsal fin is high and has 8 rays. (Xxxx and Xxxxxxxxx 1974; Xxxxx 1979; Xxxx and Xxxx 2011) (see picture in Appendix A, Figure 2).
Species Description. The Sicklefin Redhorse, a freshwater fish species, can grow to a length of approximately 650 millimeters (roughly 25.6 inches). It has an elongate, somewhat compressed, body and a highly falcate (sickle shaped) dorsal fin (back fin). Its body is olive-colored, with a coppery or brassy sheen; its lower fins (pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins) are primarily dusky to dark, often tinted yellow or orange and pale-edged; the caudal fin (tail fin) is mostly red; and its dorsal fin is olive in color, sometimes partly red. Based on an analysis of preserved specimens, the species is relatively long-lived, with males of the species living to at least 20 years of age and females at least 22 years of age (Xxxxxxx 1999, pp. 8-16; and R. E. Xxxxxxx, personal communication [pers. comm.], 2005).
Species Description. Columbia spotted frogs belong to the anuran family of "true frogs", Ranidae. Twenty-three species of ranids occur in the United States of which only three are native to Utah, the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens, the relict leopard frog, Rana onca, and the Columbia spotted frog (Fig. 1). The green frog (Rana clamitans), and the bullfrog, (Rana catesbeiana) also occur in Utah, however, these species do not naturally occur west of the Rockies and have been introduced into many areas throughout the West. Ranids are typically characterized as slim-wasted, long-legged, smooth-skinned jumpers with webbed hind feet with a pair of dorsolateral folds (glandular folds) that extend from behind the eyes to the lower back. In Utah, adult spotted frogs range from 40 mm to 100 mm (Xxxxxx 1931) and average between 45 mm and 80 mm (Xxxx et al. 1993, 1994) in snout vent length (SVL). Color and pattern descriptions of individuals from Utah include a brownish-black dorsal coloration with little or no spotting pattern. They differ from spotted frogs in the Pacific Northwest that possess numerous dorsal spots (Xxxxxxxx et al. 1983, Xxxxxxxx 1985). Spotted frogs along the Wasatch Front generally possess a salmon color ventrally and yellow to yellow-orange coloration. The throat and the ventral region are sometimes mottled. The head has a dark mask with a light stripe on the upper jaw and the eyes are turned slightly upward. The dorsolateral fold is usually present in spotted frogs, however may be absent in some individuals. Male frogs have swollen thumbs with darkened bases.
Species Description. The spotted frog is named for the black spots that cover the head, back, sides, and legs. The dark spots are characterized by ragged edges and light centers that grow and darken with age (Xxxxx 1994, p. 14). Body color also varies with age. Juveniles are usually brown or, occasionally, xxxxx xxxxx on the back and white, cream, or flesh-colored with reddish pigments on the underlegs and abdomen (McAllister and Xxxxxxx 1997, pp. 1–2). Adults range from brown to reddish brown but tend to become redder with age. The spotted frog is a medium-sized frog, ranging from 44 to 100 millimeters (1.74 to 4 inches) in body length. Females are typically larger than males and can reach up to100 millimeters or more (4 inches).
Species Description. The least chub is a minnow endemic to the Bonneville Basin of Utah, and is the sole representative of the genus Iotichthys (Xxxxxx et al. 2005, p. 18). As implied by its common name, the least chub is a small fish less than 55 millimeters (2.1 inches) long (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1987, p. 182). Historically, least chub inhabited a variety of habitat types in different environments, including rivers, streams, creeks, springs, ponds, marshes and swamps (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1987, p. 182). Today, the species is typically found in spring and xxxxx complexes in association with a variety of herbaceous emergent, floating, and submergent vegetation (Xxxxx and Xxxxxx 1980). The least chub is a partial and intermittent spawner. Xxxxxxxx (1978, p. 2) found that least chub females produced only a few eggs at a time but release eggs over an extended period. This unique reproductive strategy coupled with broad tolerances to water quality extremes, and the ability to mature in one year, allow the least chub to successfully reproduce in the strongly fluctuating environment of the spring/xxxxx complexes typical of desert habitats (Xxxxxxxx 1978, p. 2; Xxxxxxxx 1979, pp. 47-48; Xxxxxxx 1989). In general, the springs where least chub are found exhibit cool stable temperatures, relatively low, stable dissolved oxygen values, and low conductivities. The connected marshes display higher temperatures, conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen than the spring areas (Xxxxxxx 1989). Seasonal water quality changes in the aquatic habitats and life history requirements result in fish movement back and forth between the different habitat types, especially between springs and marshes (Xxxxx and Xxxxxx 1980). The presence and accessibility of these warmer xxxxx habitats has produced strong year classes and viable populations (Xxxxxxx et al. 2006, p. 434). Therefore, maintenance of hydrologic connections between springheads and xxxxx areas is important in fulfilling the least chub’s ecological requirements (Xxxxxxxx 1979, p. 63; Xxxxx and Xxxxxx 1980, p. 804; Xxxxxxx 1981, p.
Species Description. The robust redhorse is a large, heavy-bodied sucker that attains total lengths greater than 700 mm and weights up to 8 kg. This species has large molariform pharyngeal teeth specialized for crushing hard-bodied prey, such as mussels, and is the only sucker species within its range with this character. The robust redhorse is bronze on the back and sides becoming pale or white ventrally. Juveniles will have intense red in the caudal fin, which becomes less distinctive in adults. Adult males develop large tubercles on the snout and head during the spawning season.
Species Description. Cope (1875) described the relict leopard frog from an adult female with the following characters "... a dermal fold on each side of the back, ... The heel extending beyond the end of the muzzle. Light xxxxx above; below, yellow. Three rows of distinct, solid, small black spots between the dorsal folds; ... none of the spots yellow-bordered. Head unspotted; no band on lip; clouded spots on the posterior face of the femur.” Since that time, a greater number of specimens and populations of this species have been identified (Xxxxxxxx et al. 1995). In general, the relict leopard frog exhibits reduced spotting on the back and head compared to other species of leopard frogs. Background coloration varies from light xxxxx or tan to dark olive-brown and charcoal. Some individuals are green, most often on the head. The inguina is pale yellow to cream colored while the rest of the venter is white or cream colored. Adults lack spots on the tympana and conspicuous supralabial stripes, especially anterior to the eyes. In comparison with other leopard frog species, the relict leopard frog is a small frog with proportionately short limbs. Adult males appear to reach sexual maturity at about 42 mm snout-urostyle length (SUL) (Bradford et al. 2005). The largest females can exceed 70 mm SUL.
Species Description. The least chub is a small cyprinid less than 2.5 inches, characterized by a very oblique mouth, large scales (34 to 38 along the side) and absence of a lateral line (rarely with one or two pored scales). It has a deeply compressed body, the pharyngeal teeth are in two rows, 2,5-4,2, the dorsal origin lies behind the insertion of the pelvic fin and the caudal peduncle is slender. The dorsal fin rays number eight or rarely nine, and it has eight anal fin rays (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1963). The colorful least chub has a gold stripe along its blue sides with white-to-yellow fins. Males are olive-green above, steel blue on the sides, and have a golden stripe behind the upper end of the xxxx opening. The fins are lemon-amber, and sometimes the paired fins are bright golden-amber. Females and young are pale olive above, silvery on the sides, and have watery-white fins. They have silvery eyes with only a little gold coloration, rather than gold as in the males (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1963). The least chub is short lived, maturing within one year and rarely living beyond three years of age. This species swims in rather dense, well-ordered schools but is very adept at diving into the bottom vegetation or retreating rapidly into rushes when disturbed. The least chub spawns in the spring when water temperatures reach 16°C (60°F; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1987). Least chub are polyandrous broadcast spawners over vegetation, primarily algae. They do not build nests or guard their young. The eggs are demersal and adhesive to the vegetation. Fertilized eggs hatch in about two days at a water temperature of 22°C (72°F; Xxxxxxxx 1979). The presence of submerged vegetation provides an important habitat for eggs and young larvae by furnishing needed oxygen and food (Xxxxx and Xxxxxx 1980). The least chub is a partial and intermittent spawner. Xxxxxxxx (1979) found that least chub females produced only a few eggs at any time but release eggs over an extended period. The number of eggs produced at any one time is variable and may range from about 300 to 2700 (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1987). Although peak spawning activity occurs in May, the reproductive season lasts from April to August, and perhaps longer depending on environmental conditions. Field studies have shown that changes in photoperiod or light intensity rather than increasing water temperature initiated the onset of egg development and spawning. Least chub were found to reproduce in the marshes when temperature, alkalinity, pH, and conduc...
Species Description. The nene or Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) is a medium- sized goose that is closely related to the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) (Xxxxx et al. 1991). It is the only remaining native resident goose in the Hawaiian Islands (Xxxxx and Xxxxx 1991). The plumage of both sexes is similar, though it is possible to distinguish between males and females, in part because females are smaller than males (Xxxx and Xxxxxx 1980). This endemic goose is the state bird of Hawaii.
