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Hemitremia flammea (Jordan and Gilbert, 1878)
Flame Chub
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: Endangered
Global Rank: G3
State Rank: S1
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: High Conservation Concern
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 6
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Springs and springfed streams; often associated with aquatic vegetation
The flame chub is the only member of the genus Hemitremia. Hemitremia is a conjunction of Greek prefixes meaning half (hemi) and aperture (trema) which combined describe the incomplete lateral line of this species. This unusual minnow is small (up to 78 mm or 3 in total length) and heavy-bodied, with a deep caudal peduncle and a slightly compressed body shape. The head and snout are short and blunt. The lateral line is not completely pored and the pharyngeal tooth count formula is 2-5-4-2. Coloration of juveniles and small adults is olive green above and white below, with a pale band above the lateral stripe. The dark lateral stripe extends from the snout to a small caudal spot. Above the lateral line it has a gold stripe and the dorsal portion of the body is brown to olive green. During the breeding season, males develop bright red coloration on the lower body below the lateral stripe, at the front base of the dorsal fin, and above and below the caudal spot. Males will usually have some red coloration during the remainder of the year as well. A non-reproductive adult is shown at the bottom of the account. Females often grow larger than males.
The flame chub could be confused the creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and possibly the Tennessee dace (Chrosomus tennessensis). The creek chub has the same pharyngeal tooth count formula (2-5-4-2) and may have red in the dorsal fin, but is distinguished from the flame chub by having much smaller scales, a complete lateral line, and a small barbel near the corner of the mouth. The Tennessee dace may also have bright red coloration on the body and in the dorsal fin, but has much smaller scales, a more slender (i.e., strongly laterally compressed) body shape, a 5-5 pharyngeal tooth count formula, and two (versus one) lateral stripes.
The flame chub occurs only in cold, clear waters of springs and spring-fed streams. It has been collected in a wide range of waterbody sizes, from tiny first-order springs (c.a. 1 m wide) to large streams (ca. 20 m wide) that are fed by springs. It is often associated with aquatic plants, such as pondweed (Potamogeton), watercress (Nasturtium), and smartweed (Polygonum).
Midge larvae with other aquatic macroinvertebrates such as snails, isopods, freshwater oligochaetes, and hemipterans; adult insects, both terrestrial and aquatic, as well as filamentous algae.
Spawning occurs over clean gravel (diameter 18-25 mm) in moderate current at the head of riffles. H. flammea have been seen in congregates of around 200 males. A female will swim up under the males and hover over a natural depression in the substrate. One to four males will follow a female and nudge at her until the act of spawning occurs. No parental care has been documented for the species. Egg size distribution and male color patterns suggest a protracted spawning season lasting from January through May, with water temperatures ranging from 11-17 º C (52-63 º F). Females are probably multiple-clutch spawners. Flame chubs reach 2 years of life, with few living any older.
Spring runs can be easily sampled using dipnetting or seining. Trapping may be effective in deeper spring pools.
The range of the flame chub is currently limited to the mouth of the Duck River in Tennessee upstream through Alabama and Georgia and to the Knoxville, TN area. Georgia records are known only from about five sites in the Chickamauga Creek system in Catoosa and Whitfield counties. Check the Fishes of Georgia Webpage for a watershed-level distribution map.
Habitat alteration, including vegetation removal, in springs and spring runs is the principal threat to the flame chub. The flame chub is reported to have nearly disappeared from east Tennessee, a testament to its vulnerability. Without specific protection, the flame chub is vulnerable to extirpation in Georgia as a result of failure to preserve spring habitats.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Natural system modifications | Pollution | None |
| Specific Threat | Other ecosystem modifications | Agricultural & forestry effluents | None |
The best remaining population of the flame chub occurs in the Tiger Creek system, where the species has been documented as recently as 2008. The flame chub has not been documented outside of the Tiger Creek watershed since the 1960s.
Protecting the habitat integrity of springs, spring runs, and spring-fed streams known to support flame chub populations is essential for conserving this species in Georgia. Springs are relatively small habitats, vulnerable to contamination from runoff of sediment and pollutants, excessive water withdrawal, and destruction. However, the localized nature of springs also makes possible their conservation through careful management. Further surveys need to be conducted to determine the range and occurrence of populations of flame chubs so that specific habitats and management plans can be developed.
Boschung, H. T. and R. L. Mayden. 2004. Fishes of Alabama. Smithsonian Books, Washington D.C.
Etnier, D. A. and W.C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. Univ. Tennessee Press. 681pp.
Lee, S. L., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R.Stauffer. 1980. Atlas of North American fishes. North Carolina State Mus. Nat. Hist. 867pp.
Mettee, M. F., P. E. O'Neil and J. M. Pierson. 1996. Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin. Oxmoor House, Birmingham. 820pp.
Maurakis, E. G., R. Katula and W. Roston. 2001. Spawning Behavior in Hemitremia flammea (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae). Virginia Journal of Science 52 (4): 273-278.
Page, L. M. and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 432pp.
Sossamon, M. K. 1990. The life history of the flame chub, Hemitremia flammea (Jordan and Gilbert), in Pond Creek, Loudon County Tennessee. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Tennessee. 52pp.
Stallsmith, B. 2010. Status of the flame chub Hemitremia flammea in Alabama, USA. Endangered Species Research 12: 87-93.
Byron J. Freeman
B. Freeman, 1999: Original account
K. Owers, Jan 2009: Added picture, updated status and ranks, added fish atlas link, converted to new format, minor edits to text.
B. Albanese, July 2009: Added similar species, Georgia conservation status, additional picture, and minor updates throughout.
Z. Abouhamdan, April 2016: updated link
S. Mitchell, Feb, 2019: general update of entire account
