View source for Bluehead chub

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Bluehead chub
| image = Nocomis leptocephalus.jpg
| taxon = Nocomis leptocephalus
| display_parents = 3
| authority = ([[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], 1856)
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=NatureServe |date=2013 |title=''Nocomis leptocephalus'' |page=e.T202275A18230363 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202275A18230363.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| synonyms =''Ceratichthys leptocephalus'' <small>Girard 1856</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="Nocomis leptocephalus : Accepted Name">{{cite web|url=http://www.fishbase.org/Nomenclature/SynonymSummary.php?ID=24149&GSID=2420&Status=accepted%20name&Synonymy=senior%20synonym&Combination=new%20combination&GenusName=Nocomis&SpeciesName=leptocephalus&SpecCode=2809&SynonymsRef=5723&Author=(Girard,%201856)&Misspelling=0|title=Synonyms of ''Nocomis leptocephalus'' (Girard, 1856): Accepted name|access-date=1 January 2013}}</ref>
}}
The '''bluehead chub''' ('''''Nocomis leptocephalus''''') is a [[cyprinidae|cyprinid]] native to [[North America]]. Its name is due to its appearance, as breeding males have a blue head and develop large [[nuptial tubercles]].<ref name="The Virtual Aquarium">{{cite web|url=http://www.web1.cnre.vt.edu/efish/families/blueheadchub.html|title=Bluehead Chub, ''Nocomis leptocephalus''|publisher=The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service|access-date=1 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308131312/http://web1.cnre.vt.edu/efish/families/blueheadchub.html|archive-date=8 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Adult bluehead chubs are, on average, between {{cvt|70|and|160|mm}} in length.<ref name="The Virtual Aquarium" /> They have a robust body with uniformly large scales.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Freshwater Fishes of Louisiana|last=Douglas|first=Neil|publisher=Claitor's Publishing Division|year=1974}}</ref> The scales are present on the belly and breast.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Inland Fishes of Mississippi|last=Ross|first=Stephen|publisher=University Press of Mississippi|year=2001|location=Jackson, MS}}</ref> They have a pored body, a weakly falcate pectoral fin, and pharyngeal teeth.<ref name=":1" /> They have a large mouth, small eyes, and a terminal [[barbel (anatomy)|barbel]].<ref name=":0" /> Other characteristics include a darkened lateral band, spot on the caudal fin, and red coloration of the fins and iris of the eyes.<ref name=":0" /> They have 40 lateral line scales and 8 anal rays.<ref name=":0" /> The bluehead chub is a [[freshwater]] fish, and lives in [[stream pool|pools]], [[river]]s, and [[stream]]s.<ref name=":2">{{FishBase|genus=Nocomis|species=leptocephalus |month=March|year=2017}}</ref> They feed on [[insect]]s and [[plant]]s.<ref name=":2" />
== Habitat ==
Bluehead chubs inhabit [[Fresh water|freshwater]] pools, creeks, and small to medium rivers with sandy or rocky bottoms.<ref name=":2"/> They live in warm to cool waters that have swift currents and are usually [[Turbidity|turbid]].<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />
== Reproduction and life cycle ==
[[File:Nocomis leptocephalus (1370) 0429 (47610264182).jpg|thumb|left|Breeding tubercles on male. NB:This specimen is discoloured due to [[Zoological specimen#Wet specimens|preservation]]. The head would be blue, with white tubercles, in life.]]
Bluehead chubs [[Spawn (biology)|spawn]] in the spring and reproduce by [[external fertilization]] in which the female releases eggs onto the bottom and the male releases [[milt]] to fertilize the eggs.<ref name=":2" /> The male makes a nest of gravel in a mound for the female to deposit the eggs. After fertilization, the male guards the eggs until they hatch. They mature for three years before reaching [[Sexual maturity|reproductive maturity]].
==Distribution==
The bluehead chub is native to the [[United States]] and can be found in the southeastern [[United States]]. It is distributed throughout the [[York River (Virginia)|York River]] system of [[Virginia]], the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf coast]] drainage, and the lower [[Mississippi River]] drainage into [[Mississippi]] and [[Louisiana]].<ref name=":0" /> Its range includes [[Virginia]], [[West Virginia]], [[Alabama]], [[Mississippi]], [[North Carolina]], [[Florida]] and [[Louisiana]].<ref name="United States Geological Survey">{{cite web |url=https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=575 |title=Bluehead chub (''Nocomis leptocephalus'') - FactSheet |access-date=1 January 2013 |publisher = United States Geological Survey}}</ref> As a result of [[fishing bait|bait]] bucket releases by [[Bass fishing|fishermen]], the bluehead chub has spread to multiple [[drainage basin]]s in which it is not native.<ref name="United States Geological Survey"/>
== Etymology ==
The [[genus]] name ''[[Nocomis]]'' comes from the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] name for "grandmother".<ref name=":2" />
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q6417127}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Nocomis]]
[[Category:Freshwater fish of the United States]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Charles Frédéric Girard]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1856]]