Three Hundred and nine specimens of Gila from the Colorado River basin were studied. A form of numerical taxonomy, taximetrics, was used to help classify the specimens. The data from these fish indicate that many of the present hypotheses concerning their taxonomy are not valid. The concept of ecosubspecies or ecological subspecies does not fit the Colorado basin Gila. The roundtail and bonytail chubs, G. robusta Baird and Girard and G. elegans Baird and Girard respectively, currently treated as subspecies, are well separated morphologically, ecologically and reproductively and therefore are better considered two valid species. The relationship between G. cypha Miller and G. elegans is clouded by the presence of what appear to be intergrade forms. Future investigations are needed to piece together the puzzle surrounding these two fish. The subspecies name seminuda (Cope and Yarrow), presently attributed to fish from throughout the Colorado basin, more correctly is allied to the robusta of the Virgin River. Preliminary study indicates this population may be sufficiently different to warrent subspecies recognition. No specimens of G. robusta intermedia (Girard) were examined but the literature suggests this form may also be a valid species.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UTAHS/oai:digitalcommons.usu.edu:etd-3888 |
| Date | 01 May 1968 |
| Creators | Holden, Paul Bernard |
| Publisher | DigitalCommons@USU |
| Source Sets | Utah State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | All Graduate Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright for this work is held by the author. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more information contact Andrew Wesolek (andrew.wesolek@usu.edu). |
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