About the Humpback Chub

General Information

• Gila Cypha
• Appearance
  • Hump behind head which gibes the humpback chub a striking, unusual appearance
  • Has an love-colored back, silver sides, a white belly, small eyes and a long snout that overhangs its jaw
• A member of the minnow family
• Can grow nearly 20 inches and may survive more than 30 years in the wild
• Thought to have evolved 3 - 4 million years ago
• It does not have swimming strength or speed so it uses its large fins to “glide” through slow-moving areas
• Feeds on insects that become trapped in water pockets

History

• Listed as endangered by Endangered Species Act in 1964
• Listed as endangered under Colorado law since 1976

Map

• Lives primarily in canyons with swift currents and white water
• Historically, it inhabited canyons of the Colorado river
• Now, there are two populations near the Colorado/Utah border
  • Though now smaller in numbers than they were historically, the populations seem to be fairly stable in these two areas
• The largest known populations is in the Little Colorado River in the Grand canyon, where there may be up to 10,000 fish