White River Spinedace
CR

White River Spinedace

Lepidomeda albivallis

Increasing

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_River_spinedace

Overview

The White River spinedace is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, Eurasian minnows and related species. This critically endangered fish is found in Nevada, where it is restricted to the White River in the southeastern part of the state.

The White River spinedace faces severe threats from habitat modification and water diversions that have dramatically altered its native spring systems in eastern Nevada. Introduced non-native fish species compete directly with this endemic minnow and have contributed to population declines across its limited range. Groundwater pumping and agricultural water use have reduced spring flows, while habitat degradation from livestock grazing has further compromised the quality of remaining aquatic environments.

Threat summary

Habitat

The White River spinedace is endemic to spring-fed streams and thermal springs in the White River drainage system of eastern Nevada. This species requires clear, flowing water with rocky or gravelly substrates and is adapted to the relatively stable temperatures and water chemistry of natural spring environments.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Other threatened species in LEUCISCIDAE

VU

Tagus Chub

Squalius pyrenaicus

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South European Nase

Protochondrostoma genei

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EN

Karst Dace

Telestes karsticus

Unknown
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Schmidt's Dace

Leuciscus schmidti

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Threatened in United States

Argentinean Horned FrogVU

Argentinean Horned Frog

Ceratophrys ornata

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VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
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Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is White River Spinedace classified as Critically Endangered?
White River Spinedace 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 White River spinedace faces severe threats from habitat modification and water diversions that have dramatically altered its native spring systems in eastern Nevada. Introduced non-native fish species compete directly with this endemic minnow and have contributed to population declines across its limited range. Groundwater pumping and agricultural water use have reduced spring flows, while habitat degradation from livestock grazing has further compromised the quality of remaining aquatic environments.
Where does White River Spinedace live?
White River Spinedace occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to White River Spinedace?
The main threats to White River Spinedace are 7.2, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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