This species is represented
by a limited number of distinct occurrences, or subpopulations
(probably fewer than 20). Varela-Romero et al. (2011)
surveyed the entire Mexican range and found this species
in three sites in the Yaqui basin, zero sites in the
Mayo basin, and two sites in the Fuerte basin. Not
more than a few small populations exist in Arizona
(Varela-Romero et al. 2011). Based on pervasive threats
in most occupied drainage basins, the number of distinct
locations may not exceed five. The total adult population
size is unknown. This fish is rare to uncommon throughout
its range (Varela-Romero et al. 2011). Surveys in
1979 found Mexican populations to be seriously depleted.
USFWS (1990) categorized the status as 'declining'.
Recent surveys found Ictalurus pricei in
only five collection sites in Mexico, compared to
15 historical collection sites (Varela-Romero et al.
2011). Global population
trend over the past 10 years or three generations
is uncertain, but distribution and abundance probably
are still declining. Local population trend at Big
Tank has declined by 15% annually since the 1990’s
(Stewart et al. 2017). Threats (non-native species,
new reservoirs) to the Yaqui Catfish have increased
in recent years, and hybridisation with the Channel
Catfish now appears widespread (Varela-Romero et al.
2011). Habitat: includes medium to
slow currents over gravel/sand substrates in small
to medium rivers (Lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 2011).
Habitat in Mexico includes moderate to large streams,
at elevations up of 2,100 m, in moderate to swift
currents; substrates of mud, sand, gravel, rock, and
scattered boulders; vegetation may be sparse except
for diatoms and green algae on riffles; depths of
1.0–4.0 m (Miller 2005).
Common
Name:
Yaqui catfish
Synonyms:
Villarius pricei
Family:
Ictaluridae
Distribution:
North America:
Rio Yaqui and Rio Casas Grandes drainages in northwestern
Mexico and (presumably) extreme southeastern Arizona
in USA.
Size:
57.0cm. (22¾ins) TL.
Temp:
18-25°C (63-77°F)
p.H.
6.5-7.5.
Reference:
Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 04/2019 ). NatureServe & Lyons, T.J. 2019.
Ictalurus
pricei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2019. Page, L.M. and
B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater
fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton
Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
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