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Tim Aldridge (3)

This species is represented by a limited number of distinct occurrences, or subpopulations (probably fewer than 20). Varela-Romero et al. (2011) surveyed the entire Mexican range and found this species in three sites in the Yaqui basin, zero sites in the Mayo basin, and two sites in the Fuerte basin. Not more than a few small populations exist in Arizona (Varela-Romero et al. 2011). Based on pervasive threats in most occupied drainage basins, the number of distinct locations may not exceed five. The total adult population size is unknown. This fish is rare to uncommon throughout its range (Varela-Romero et al. 2011). Surveys in 1979 found Mexican populations to be seriously depleted. USFWS (1990) categorized the status as 'declining'. Recent surveys found Ictalurus pricei in only five collection sites in Mexico, compared to 15 historical collection sites (Varela-Romero et al. 2011). Global population trend over the past 10 years or three generations is uncertain, but distribution and abundance probably are still declining. Local population trend at Big Tank has declined by 15% annually since the 1990’s (Stewart et al. 2017). Threats (non-native species, new reservoirs) to the Yaqui Catfish have increased in recent years, and hybridisation with the Channel Catfish now appears widespread (Varela-Romero et al. 2011). Habitat: includes medium to slow currents over gravel/sand substrates in small to medium rivers (Lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 2011). Habitat in Mexico includes moderate to large streams, at elevations up of 2,100 m, in moderate to swift currents; substrates of mud, sand, gravel, rock, and scattered boulders; vegetation may be sparse except for diatoms and green algae on riffles; depths of 1.0–4.0 m (Miller 2005).

Yaqui catfish

Villarius pricei

Ictaluridae

North America: Rio Yaqui and Rio Casas Grandes drainages in northwestern Mexico and (presumably) extreme southeastern Arizona in USA.

57.0cm. (22¾ins) TL.

18-25°C (63-77°F)

6.5-7.5.

Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 04/2019 ).
NatureServe & Lyons, T.J. 2019. Ictalurus pricei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019.