Moapa dace

The moapa dace (Moapa coriacea) is a rare cyprinid fish of southern Nevada, United States, found only in the upper parts of the Muddy (formerly Moapa) River, and in the warm springs that give rise to the river. It is the only species of the monotypic genus Moapa.
A small fish, with a maximum recorded length of 9 cm, its scales are small and embedded in the skin, resulting in a noticeably leathery texture (thus the species epithet, derived from Latin coriaceus "leathery"). General body shape is standard for cyprinids, with a vaguely conical head.
Moapa dace require warm water, and can survive in a temperature range of 67 to 93 °F. They inhabit waters with abundant algae and shade over gravel, sand and mud, and have an omnivorous diet. Their reproduction cycle peaks in spring and is the lowest in fall, occurring in headwater tributaries.SCOPPETTONE, G. (1992). LIFE-HISTORY, ABUNDANCE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF MOAPA DACE (MOAPA-CORIACEA). Great Basin Naturalist, 52(3), 216–225. Spawning occurs within 150 m of headwaters springs, in water temperatures of 30-32° C. The Moapa Dace usually reproduce in areas where there are overhead instream cover and the water velocity is around 0.11 to 0.17 meters per second. The entire habitat of this species consists of less than 10 square kilometers within Clark County, Nevada.
Moapa dace were first federally listed as endangered in 1967, then reclassified as vulnerable in 1986 and 1988. In 1994, a fire at the Moapa National Wildlife Refuge triggered a population decline, and by 1996 the species had been classified as critically endangered. Additional threats to this species include loss of habitat due to resort development, the introduction of non-native fish species, and capping or depletion of spring-fed headwaters.
The Moapa National Wildlife Refuge was established solely to protect this species, and was the first National Wildlife Refuge created for the purpose of protecting an endangered fish species.
== Notes ==
==References==
* Ira La Rivers, Fishes and Fisheries of Nevada (University of Nevada Press, 1994)
Category:Leuciscinae
Category:Cyprinid fish of North America
Category:Endemic fauna of Nevada
Category:Fauna of the Mojave Desert
Dace, Moapa
Dace, Moapa
Category:Clark County, Nevada
Category:Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Category:Natural history of Nevada
Category:Fish described in 1948
Category:Critically endangered fauna of the United States
Category:ESA endangered species
Category:Freshwater fish of North America