Gravel Chub
(Erimystax x-punctatus)
This small chub is an indicator of good water quality in large river systems. The species name x-punctatus describes the x-shaped spots found on the back and sides of this species.
Description
The gravel chub is a small species of chub with no markings on the fins and a single small barbel in each of the rear corners of its mouth. They have a rather long snout and sub-terminal (ending below tip of snout) mouth. The gravel chub gets its latin species name from the many small x-shaped spots found on its back and sides. The gravel chub differs from the closely related streamline chub by having not as long and slender of a body, no series of 7-11 dark dashes along its side, and a more light straw brown rather than bright silver body coloration.
Habitat and Habits
Gravel chub are found in the largest river systems of the Ohio River basin in Ohio. They are found on large sand and gravel bars with moderate current typically near the bottom in 2-4 feet of water. They are intolerant of clayey silts and other pollutants which makes them a good indicator of high quality rivers. Historically this species may have been in the Cuyahoga River or other river systems in the Lake Erie drainage in Ohio. No reliable Ohio records exist but records of this species on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes do exist.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Gravel chub likely spawn in spring or early summer but little is known about their reproductive biology.