Fish Species

The Dexter National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center (Center) currently holds 15 threatened and endangered species. The Center has a viable and protected captive gene pool of these imperiled fish native to the Southwest. The station maintains a broodstock for each species, rearing fish with the intent of reintroducing them into their native habitat.

Bonytail, Photo Credit: USFWS

The Center contributes to the recovery of each fish by providing a refugium, developing propagation and culture techniques, conducting water quality data, diet and nutrition testing, early life history studies, reproductive physiology and genetic management.

The Center is a pioneer in the area of research and development; housing the largest number of threatened and endangered fish species of any facility in the United States.

The fish species listed below are separated by common name, scientific name and family. To view additional information click on the small fish to the left of the common name. In addition to those listed below, the facility also rears Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctacus. The catfish are reared specifically for the purpose of National Boating and Fishing Week. Fish are distributed to local lakes during the month of June.

Click on Fish to View Additional Information

	Common Name	Scientific Name	Family
	Razorback sucker	Xyrauchen texanus	Castostomidae
	Bonytail	Gila elegans	Cyprinidae
	Chihuahua chub	Gila nigrescens	Cyprinidae
	Colorado pikeminnow	Ptychocheilus lucius	Cyprinidae
	Guzman beautiful shiner	Cyprinella formosa formosa	Cyprinidae
	Pahranagat roundtail chub	Gila robusta jordani	Cyprinidae
	Rio Grande silvery minnow	Hybognathus amarus	Cyprinidae
	Virgin River chub	Gila robusta seminude	Cyprinidae
	Woundfin	Plagopterus argentissimus	Cyprinidae
	Comanche Springs pupfish	Cyprinodon elegans	Cyprinodontidae
	Desert pupfish	Cyprinodon macularis	Cyprinodontidae
	Leon Springs pupfish	Cyprinodon bovines	Cyprinodontidae
	Big Bend gambusia	Gambusia Giagei	Poeciliidae
	Gila topminnow	Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis	Poeciliidae
	Pecos gambusia	Gambusia nobilis	Poeciliidae