Featured Species
Currently Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center maintains 14 warmwater fish species; however, five species account for most of our annual propagation and augmentation program commitments. The other species are either spawned intermittently or only maintained as refuge populations (not spawned).
Bonytail (Gila elegans) - The Center maintains the only existing captive breeding population (approximately 1,700 individuals) that was started in 1981 from the last 10 individuals collected in the wild. This population is used to produce fish for reintroduction into the Colorado River.
Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) - The Center maintains the only captive breeding population (approximately 525 individuals) and produces individuals to assist the San Juan River population in New Mexico. Efforts to augment the captive population with wild-caught larvae started in 2016 and are expected to conclude in 2021.
Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) - The Center maintains a captive breeding population (approximately 12,000 individuals) and produces individuals to add to the Rio Grande population in New Mexico.
Razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) - The Center maintains a captive breeding population (approximately 1,000 individuals) and produces individuals to add to the San Juan River population in New Mexico.
Woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus) - The Center maintains a captive breeding population (approximately 3,000 individuals) and produces individuals to add to existing populations in Utah.