Southern Leatherside
Photo Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Lepidomeda aliciae
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
Species range
The Southern Leathersides range is entirely within the state of Utah making it endemic to Utah. Its range is restricted to the southeastern margins of the Bonneville Basin and the Sevier River basin.
Habitat
Southern leathersides prefer creeks and rivers with a moderate gradient and a steady flow. They are typically found in slow-moving pools and quiet backwater in cooler water temperatures.
Food habits
The Southern Leathersides diet consists of both aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.
Reproductive characteristics
The Southern Leatherside begins reproducing at two to three years old, or when it reaches at least 50 mm in length. Spawning typically occurs in late spring to early summer over small cobble in slow-flowing pool and riffle habitat
Taxonomy
Recent genetic, morphological, and ecological studies have reclassified the Southern and Northern Leathersides as two distinct species within the genus Lepidomeda(Spinedaces), correcting earlier classifications. Both species were formerly considered a single species under the name Gila copei or Snyderichthys copei. When the fish were split into two species they were also reclassified as occuring the Genus Lepidomeda which includes the Spinedaces. With the reclaqssification the "chub" portion of their name was dropped.