Hundreds of Very Rare Fish Discovered in Nevada

National Park Service found 263 Devil's Hole pupfish in Devil's Hole, Nevada, after an earthquake hit the area in September.

Based on the National Park Service's press release, reports discovered 263 Devil's Hole pupfish in the area.

It noted that it was the highest count of pupfish in 19 years.

The press release said that the Devils Hole pupfish hides 80 feet deep. It noted that the said species are considered the smallest vertebrate species on the planet.

How the scientists managed to calculate the number of pupfish is amazing.

According to the National Parks Service report, the pupfish population's size is estimated by counting the fish. Then, the experts' scuba dive in their habitats. From underwater, they also count the fish on the surface.

Growing species

Moreover, Michael Schwemm explained that the habitat conditions in the area changed since the lowest counts of pupfish were recorded.

Schwemm is a Senior Fish Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Last month, park officials were worried about the impact of the 7.6 earthquakes that hit Mexico in September. The result could affect the algae in the pupfish habitat, disrupting their feeding cycle or food sources.

The pupfish population showed a few numbers in the last two decades, with an average of 90 pupfish. The report added that number of the said species reached from 400 to 500 in the fall.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, pupfish species live in small areas and can be found in isolated aquatic habitats in parts of the southwestern United States.

It also noted that the Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish is as little as a half-inch in the water.

Algae is the most food source that pupfish species feed on. Moreover, NWF said that the pupfish diet is plants, insects, and aquatic invertebrates.

Despite pupfish living in low numbers and most of the species being recognized as endangered, NWF explained that pupfish couldn't thrive in large populations.

Pupfish

Scientists and biologists were amazed as they noticed the growing number of extremely rare fish in Death Valley.

In the press release, Jennifer Gumm said that the earthquake-induced the spawning of pupfish species. Gumm is from Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service states.

On the other hand, Biologist Brandon Senger explained that the pupfish population was more robust than before, which shows that more fish was seen on one level.

Senger is Supervising Fisheries Biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife

Pupfish population

The National Parks Service (NPS) showed different species of pupfish.

• Devil's Hole pupfish is known as Cyprinodon diabolis and is considered endangered, thriving in western Nevada.
• Salt Creek pupfish is known as Cyprinodon salinus ssp. salinus, and it is considered endangered, thriving in the central part of Death Valley.
• Cottonball Marsh pupfish, known as Cyprinodon salinus milleri, is considered a threatened species, thriving in central Death Valley's west side.
• Saratoga Springs pupfish is known as Cyprinodon nevadensis ssp. nevadensis, thriving in Saratoga Springs Death Valley's south end.
• Lastly, Amargosa pupfish is known as Amargosa pupfish, thriving in the Amargosa River at Saratoga Springs' northwest.

Moreover, the National Wildlife Federation said that pupfish life span:

• Devils Hole pupfish - 6 to 12 months
• Comanche Springs pupfish - one or two years

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