ABSTRACT

Size

To nearly 1 meter and 4.5 kg in the sea. Individuals over 36 cm are rare in the lower Colorado River.

Conservation Status

Not currently listed or under consideration for listing as imperiled.

Distribution

Coastal waters of the eastern tropical Pacific, north to Magdalena Bay and throughout the Gulf of California. Machete regularly ascend the lower reaches of the Colorado and Yaqui rivers. In the Colorado river machete have been found as far upstream as Y uma, 150 km from the sea. In the Rio Yaqui machete are found upstream to the dam forming Presa Alvaro Obregon. Formerly in the Salton Sea.

Abundance

Common in the sea but considerably less abundant in desert rivers than formerly because of decreased flows and barrier dams.

Habitat & Ecology

Reproduction

Machete broadcast planktonic eggs well offshore in the sea. All fishes in this family pass through a unique leaf-shaped, transparent leptocephalous larvae stage.

Threats

Pollution, loss of nursery habitat due to development of estuaries, and overfishing of prey species are minor threats to the abundance of machete in the sea.

Conservation Action

No action to benefit machete has been taken.

Conservation Recommendations

These actions will allow machete to continue to enter the lower Colorado River:

• Allow adequate flows of good-quality water to reach the sea.
• Limit the numbers of exotic fishes in the river.
• Remove dams and other barriers in the river.

Important References

1. Miller, Daniel J. and Robert N. Lea, Guide to the Coastal Marine Fishes of California, Fish Bulletin 157, California Department of Fish and Game, 1972, pp 52-53.
2. Minckley, W. L., Fishes of Arizona, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 1972, pp 46-47.

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(Dean Hendrickson)				General information:   (E. Phil Pister)

This page last modified:  09 December 2003