Preliminary observations and notes about spawning behavior in captive Zuni bluehead sucker, Catostomus discobolus yarrowi

Authors: Kim Ward

Year: 2016 (xlviii)

Abstract

The Zuni bluehead sucker is a medium bodied sucker found in small isolated populations in Western New Mexico and Arizona. It was listed as endangered in New Mexico in 1975 and was federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2014. The ABQ BioPark’s Aquatic Conservation Facility has held individuals from the Tampico Springs and Agua Remora-Zuni River watershed-populations since 2007. Successful captive spawning and recruitment has occurred in outdoor holding systems beginning in 2009. In April of 2012, protolarval fish (~10 mm TL) were observed in one of the outdoor raceways. An underwater camera was deployed to find spawning locations and observe behavior. Video was captured of a single large female flanked by up to ten smaller males exhibiting bright red coloration. This is perhaps the only video documentation of spawning behavior in this species. Physical parameters such as water chemistry and substrate preference were recorded for future reference. These observations may be used to describe spawning behaviors and improve captive husbandry practices and future management decisions regarding conservation and critical habitat designation.