Loading profile. Please wait . . .
Erimonax monachus (Cope, 1868)
Spotfin Chub
Federal Protection: Listed Threatened
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G2
State Rank: SX
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: Moderate Conservation Concern
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 1
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Large creeks to medium-sized rivers; moderate to swift currents over gravel to bedrock
Spotfin Chubs are cyprinids that reach a maximum size of 120 mm and live a little longer than 3 years. They have a slightly compressed, elongated body and a spot on at the base of the caudal fin and dorsal fin. They are normally dusky-green above the lateral line and silver on the lower sides bordered by gold and green stripes. Breeding males have a blue-green sheen and large tubercles that cover the top of the head and above the lateral line.
This species could easily be confused for other species in the genus Cyprinella, including galactura, spiloptera and whipplii. However, these species lack a caudal spot and only have 42 or fewer lateral line scales where the Spotfin Chub has 52-62.
Clear, flowing water over large gravel, boulders or bedrock with low levels of silt. Juveniles are often found over smaller gravel with moderate current.
Primarily small aquatic insect larvae, mostly midge and blackfly larvae.
Spotfin Chubs are crevice spawners, depositing eggs in bedrock and boulder crevices. Females will spawn repeatedly during the spawning season and dominant males will guard prime spawning sites from other males. Males seem to deposit milt into a crevice before the females arrive and will then deposit milt again at the same time the female deposits eggs when she arrives. Neither parent guards the nest after spawning occurs.
Spotfin Chubs can be found best by snorkeling, although identifying them in a school of minnows can be difficult.
This fish was once widely distributed in the Tennessee River Basin in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In Georgia it used to be found in Chickamauga Creek in Ringgold. The best remaining populations are now in the Little Tennessee River and in the lower ends of its tributaries in Swain and Macon counties, NC. A large reintroduction effort of this species into Abrams Creek in Tennessee started in 1988. 630 individuals were translocated from 1988 to 1990 from a robust population in the Little Tennessee River. Following the translocation, no Spotfin Chubs were found, so captive propagation of this species started in 1994.
Poor land use practices associated with forestry, mining, agriculture and development. Impoundment of big rivers likely cut off genetic flow between populations further degrading the populations of the species.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Natural system modifications | Pollution | Residential & commercial development |
| Specific Threat | Dams & water management/use | None | None |
This species is extirpated from Georgia.
A federal recovery plan for the Spotfin Chub includes habitat improvement and possible reintroductions in order to recover the species.
Etnier, D.A. and W. D. Starnes. 1993. The Fishes of Tennessee. Univ. Tennessee Press, Knoxville: 153-154.
Jenkins, R. E. and N. M. Burkhead. 1984. Description, Biology and Distribution of the Spotfin Chub, Hybopsis monacha, a Threatened Cyprinind Fish of the Tennessee River Drainage.
Rakes, P. L., J. R. Shute and P. W. Shute. 1999. Reproductive behavior, captive breeding and restoration ecology of endangered fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 55: 31-42.
Shute, J. R., P. L. Rakes and P. W. Shute. 2005. Reintroduction of Four Imperiled Fishes in Abrams Creek, Tennessee. Southeastern Naturalist 4(1): 93-110.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Recovery Plan for Spotfin Chub (Hybopsis monacha). Atlanta (GA): U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Shawna Mitchell
S. Mitchell, Dec 2018: Original account