Olympic mudminnow
| Olympic mudminnow | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Esociformes |
| Family: | Umbridae |
| Genus: | Novumbra L. P. Schultz, 1929 |
| Species: | N. hubbsi |
| Binomial name | |
| Novumbra hubbsi L. P. Schultz, 1929 | |
The Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbsi) is a fish native to the western lowlands of Washington state: the Chehalis River basin, Deschutes R. basin, and some Olympic Peninsula basins. It grows to 8 cm (ca 3 inches) in length, and is Washington's only known endemic freshwater fish species. Although they strongly resemble killifish, mudminnows are more closely related to pikes and mukellunge.
Taxonomy
The Olympic mudminnow is the only species in genus Novumbra, and one of seven species worldwide in the family Umbridae.
Biology
The Olympic mudminnow resides in dark areas in the bottom of the river, living on fish larvae, eggs and small invertebrates. It prefers areas with mudbeds and dense vegetation, and has a remarkable tolerance of low oxygen levels.
Conservation status
The Olympic mudminnow is listed as a sensitive species by the state of Washington. Although there are many populations, the range is limited, and suitable habitat is easily lost to development
References
- Schultz, L. P. 1929 (July) Description of a new type of mud-minnow from western Washington, with notes on related species. Univ. Wash. Publ. Fish. v. 2 (no. 6): 73-81, Pls. 1-2.
- Mongillo, P., and M. Hallock. 1999.Washington state status report for the Olympic mudminnow. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, WA.
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). "Novumbra hubbsi" in FishBase. February 2012 version.
- Nativefish.org site
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife site: status report
- WDFW site: sensitive species list