Moapa Dace
CR

Moapa Dace

Gila coriacea

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

The moapa dace is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, chubs, Eurasian minnows and related species. This is a rare fish found in southern Nevada, United States, found only in the upper parts of the Muddy River, and in the warm springs that give rise to the river.

The Gila coriacea faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from dam construction and water diversions that have altered natural flow regimes in the Colorado River basin. Introduced non-native fish species compete for resources and prey on juveniles, while water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development degrades remaining habitat quality. Climate change exacerbates these pressures by reducing water availability and increasing temperature extremes beyond the species' tolerance range.

Threat summary

Habitat

Gila coriacea inhabits warm, turbid waters of the lower Colorado River system, including main river channels, backwaters, and connected tributaries. The species prefers areas with moderate to swift currents and rocky or sandy substrates, typically at elevations below 1,000 meters.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Other threatened species in LEUCISCIDAE

VU

Tagus Chub

Squalius pyrenaicus

Declining
EN

Eastern Aegean bleak

Alburnus demiri

Declining
EN

Yliki Roach

Rutilus ylikiensis

Unknown
CR

Barada spring minnow

Pseudophoxinus syriacus

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Moapa Dace classified as Critically Endangered?
Moapa Dace is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Gila coriacea faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from dam construction and water diversions that have altered natural flow regimes in the Colorado River basin. Introduced non-native fish species compete for resources and prey on juveniles, while water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development degrades remaining habitat quality. Climate change exacerbates these pressures by reducing water availability and increasing temperature extremes beyond the species' tolerance range.
Where does Moapa Dace live?
Moapa Dace occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Moapa Dace?
The main threats to Moapa Dace are 5.3, 7.1, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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