Experiences with Pahrump poolfish, Empetrichthys latos

Authors: Fairfield, Hal*

Year: 2015 (xlvii)

Abstract

Pahrump poolfish, Empetrichthys latos, are the only remaining remnant of three killifish subspecies that were endemic to the desert biota in Pahrump Valley, Nye County, Nevada. Robert R. Miller first described these poolfish in 1948, just prior to the extinction of two of the subspecies due to habitat loss. The surviving poolfish were removed from their native habitat at Manse Ranch Spring in 1975 and only exists today at refuge sites outside Pahrump Valley. Our Pahrump poolfish are placed in the Goodeidae family and along with White River springfish of eastern Nevada represent the egg-laying members of an otherwise live-bearing group of small fishes found in south-central Mexico. The opportunity to maintain Pahrump poolfish in aquaria allowed observation with findings about the subspecies that include, male and female differentiation, a night mating preference, the presence of an ovipositor in females, and egg development with subsequent larval and juvenile observations. Elements of these findings are presented with a series of photographs and drawings to aid in understanding aspects of this interesting desert fish. It is hoped that this presentation will spark additional interest and further studies of this endangered desert fish.