Date:September 2nd, 8:00am
Happy Tuesday, everybody! Today's fish of the day is the Devils river minnow!
The Devils river minnow, also known by scientific name Dionda diaboli, is a rarely found fish. Found in only three remaining locations across Texas and Mexico. Particularly: Val verde, and Kinney counties, Tx, and Coahuila, Mexico, throughout the Chihuahuan desert. Their habitat is found in areas across the Devils river, or Rio Grande meets spring waters, in the ecological transition zone. Clear, slow moving waters with little pollution, and fine gravel bottoms, through temperatures of 15° C to 31° C. As these areas are known for extreme drought conditions, as well as flash flooding, the devils river minnow may withstand fast waters during strife. It is believed their range used to be much larger, however it has been fragmented by extreme pollution, as well as extensive dam building throughout the rivers.
The diet of these fish is lightly debated, as no one has seen them eat in the wild. However the shape of their gut, and stomach contents imply these fish feed near exclusively on algaes, and other vegetation. In captivity, they'll feed on brine shrimp as well, implying there may be zooplankton in their diet in the wild. Adult fish will gorw only 1-2 inches in length, making them easy prey. Particularly, to the invasive smallmouth bass, which is thought to be the reason the species, and similar species in the genus, have had dramatic decreases in population. These minnows can be visually found by the distinctive wedge shaped spot near the tail, as well the dark markings on the dorsal side, appearing as though they have a cross hatching pattern.
Little is known about the reproduction of the Devils river minnow, but they're known from spawning from January through August. This long spawning season allows these fish the ability to have multiple batches of babies per season. These fish are visually distinct in spawning forms, female fish will remain their average colors, but male fish have tubercles across the head and pectoral fins. They're broadcast spawners, meaning they release eggs and milt to connect externally, once fertilized the eggs will fall to the bottom and incubate in the substrate for weeks to months. Once hatched, these fish will then mature quickly, ready to breed within a year, if they survive that is. beyond this. We know little of their life cycle, beyond that they live only 1-2 years.
That's the Devil river minnow, everybody! Hope you have a good Tuesday!