The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

IUCN 2019: T6624A3135282
Scope: Global
Language: English

Tampichthys dichromus, Bicolor Minnow

Assessment by: Soto Galera, E.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Soto Galera, E. 2019. Tampichthys dichromus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2019: e.T6624A3135282. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T6624A3135282.en

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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae

Taxon Name:  Tampichthys dichromus (Hubbs & Miller, 1977)

Synonym(s):
• Dionda dichroma Hubbs & Miller, 1977

Common Name(s):
• English: Bicolor Minnow
• Spanish: Sardinita de Rio Verde

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Critically Endangered A2ac ver 3.1

Year Published: 2019

Date Assessed: November 7, 2018

Justification:
According to the collections made by the University of Michigan, USA, the specimens captured in the
decade of the 50's present a greater abundance than at present, where it was possible to observe
collections of up to 235 organisms in tributaries of the Río Verde; while during the decade of the 70's in
places close to the aforementioned, or in springs near the City of Río Verde, the number of specimens
captured with various fishing gears was low compared to previous abundances. On the other hand, in
the records of the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (IPN), the collections made after the 70's
indicate the decrease in the abundance of the species (Soto-Galera et al. 2003). Specifically, the records
of T. dichromus up to 1980 included 11 collections and 421 specimens, in contrast to 2011, with which
similar collection efforts could only capture 9 individuals in two events (Soto-Galera et al. 2011),
representing a reduction in the population of 82%. The species is therefore listed as Critically
Endangered.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

1996 – Vulnerable (VU)
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T6624A12791131.en

1994 – Rare (R)

1990 – Rare (R)

1988 – Rare (R)

1986 – Rare (R)

Geographic Range

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tampichthys dichromus – published in 2019. 1
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Range Description:
This species is endemic to Mexico, where it occurs in the upper Río Verde drainage (Río Pánuco basin),
from near the town of Río Verde and vicinity of La Media Luna to the headwaters in San Luis Potosí,
from about 1000 to 1100 m above sea level and in lower Río Verde at Guayabos and Tanlacú, between
300 and 500 m above sea level. These two localities are below substantial falls in the lava canyon of the
river (Miller et al. 2005).

Country Occurrence:
Native: Mexico (San Luis Potosí)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tampichthys dichromus – published in 2019. 2
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Distribution Map
Tampichthys dichromus

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Population
According to the collections made by the University of Michigan, USA, the specimens captured in the
decade of the 50's present a greater abundance than at present, where it was possible to observe
collections of up to 235 individuals in tributaries of the Río Verde; while during the decade of the 70's in
places close to the aforementioned, or in springs near the City of Río Verde, the number of specimens
captured with various fishing gears was low compared to previous abundances. On the other hand, in
the records of the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (IPN), the collections made after the 70's
indicate the decrease in the abundance of the species (Soto-Galera et al. 2011). Specifically, the records
of T. dichromus up to 1980 included 11 collections and 421 specimens, in contrast to 2011, with which
similar collection efforts could only capture 9 individuals in two events (Soto-Galera et al. 2011). This
represents a reduction in the population of approximately 82%. Generation length in this species is
estimated at around two years, based on related Cyprinidae species (Cloutman and Harrel 1987).
Current Population Trend:  Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

This species inhabits clear water of warm springs, irrigation ditches, streams, and main stem Río Verde,
over substrates of sand, gravel, rock, marl, and silt; usually at depths of less than 1 m, in slight to
moderate (rarely swift) currents; associated with a variety of emergent vascular plants plus Chara,
Scirpus sp., and algae (Millet et al. 2005). The rivers where the species inhabits have amplitudes of 10 to
12 m (lower part of the Río Verde), above 50 meters above sea level. In the springs that form the heads
of rivers, temperatures vary from 26° to 29° C (Hubbs and Miller 1977).

Systems:  Freshwater

Use and Trade

This species is not used or traded.

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

There are large areas within the mountainous regions in the Rio Verde Valley that have suffered
immoderate logging to become farming areas; downstream has increased the construction of irrigation
dams, as well as the overexploitation of aquifers that limit the recharge of water tables and thus be used
mainly for the supply of industrial and urban water. The middle and lower regions of the Verde River are
characterized by being tourist areas that bring large amounts of trash to the river as a consequence, as
well as the physical destruction of the habitat. There are also large contributions of agrochemicals and
fertilizers to the river due to the agriculture that is carried out. The introduction of exotic species could
also become a problem since in the lower part of the Verde River Tilapia aurea was captured, from
which the use of the substrate to build its nests is known, modifying its characteristics (Arriaga-Cabrera
et al. 1998).

Very restricted distribution area, only in the lower part of the Río Verde in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Introduction of Gambusia panuco and the exotic Oreochromis aureus, who compete with T. dichromus
for the habitat, displacing it (Cordero-Bleizeffer and Espinosa-Pérez 2016). In addition, in 2016 the
presence of Micropterus salmoides was detected in the Los Anteojitos spring (Soto-Galera et al. 2018).

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tampichthys dichromus – published in 2019. 4
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Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
There are no conservation measures in place for this species. It is present in Parque Estatal Manantial de
la Media Luna. It is listed as Vulnerable under the Mexican NOM-059 SEMARNAT 2010. Research is
needed to better determine the population size and trend of this species and the threats that may be
affecting it.

Credits
Assessor(s): Soto Galera, E.

Reviewer(s): Mejía Guerrero, O.

Contributor(s): Contreras-Balderas, S., Almada-Villela, P. & Domínguez, O.

Facilitators(s) and Tognelli, M.F.

Compiler(s):

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Bibliography
Arriaga-Cabrera, L., Aguilar-Sierra, V., Alcocer-Durán, J., Jiménez-Rosenberg, R., Muñoz-López, E. and
Vázquez-Domínguez., E. 1998. Regiones Hidrológicas Prioritarias: fichas técnicas y mapa (escala 1:4 000
000). Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, México.

Cloutman, D.G. and Harrel, R.D. 1987. Life history notes on the whitefin shiner, Notropis niveus (Pisces:
Cyprinidae), in the Broad River, South Carolina. Copeia 1987: 1037-1040.

Cordero-Bleizeffer, R. C. and Espinosa-Pérez, H. 2016. Dionda mandibularis (Tampichthys mandibularis.

Carpa quijarona, Flatjaw Minnow. In: Ceballos, G., Díaz-Pardo, E., Martínez-Estévez, L. and Espinosa-
Pérez, H. (eds), Los peces dulceacuícolas de México en Peligro de extinción., pp. 141-142. Fondo de
Cultura Económica, México.

Groombridge, B. (ed.). 1994. 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and
Cambridge, UK.

Hubbs, C.L. and Miller, R.R. 1977. Six distinctive cyprinid fish species referred to Dionda inhabiting
segments of the Tampico embayment drainiage of Mexico. Transactions of the San Diego Society of
Natural History 18: 267-336.

IUCN. 1990. 1990 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN. 2019. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 04 July 2019).

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1986. 1986 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland,
Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1988. IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland,
Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Miller, R.R., Minckley, W.L. and Morri, S.M. 2005. Freshwaters Fishes of Mexico. The University of
Chicago Press, Chicago, USA.

Soto-Galera, E., Alcántara-Soria, L. and Paulo-Maya, J. 2018. Estado actual, identificación de riesgos y
propuestas para el manejo de las especies invasoras presentes en las regiones hidrológicas prioritarias,
confluencia de las Huastecas, Media Luna y Cabecera del río de La Laja. Instituto Politécnico Nacional.
Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas. Informe final SNIB-CONABIO proyecto No. LI038. México, D.F.

Soto-Galera, E., Alcántara-Soria,L. y J. Paulo-Maya. 2011. Estado actual de la ictiofauna dulceacuícola de

la provincia del complejo Tamesí-Pánuco. CONABIO, Mexico, DF.

Citation
Soto Galera, E. 2019. Tampichthys dichromus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019:
e.T6624A3135282. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T6624A3135282.en

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To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.

External Resources

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tampichthys dichromus – published in 2019. 6
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T6624A3135282.en
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Tampichthys dichromus – published in 2019. 7
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 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.1. Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Resident Suitable Yes
Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.9. Wetlands (inland) - Freshwater Springs and Resident Suitable Yes
Oases

15. Artificial/Aquatic & Marine -> 15.7. Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land Resident Suitable -
(includes irrigation channels)

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.3. Ongoing - - -

Tourism & recreation areas

5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood Ongoing - - -

harvesting -> 5.3.3. Unintentional effects:
(subsistence/small scale) [harvest]

7. Natural system modifications -> 7.2. Dams & water Ongoing - - -

management/use -> 7.2.3. Abstraction of surface
water (agricultural use)

8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes & Ongoing - - -

diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien
species/diseases -> 8.1.1. Unspecified species

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Occur in at least one PA: Yes

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

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 Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

1. Research -> 1.5. Threats

Additional Data Fields

Habitats and Ecology
Generation Length (years): 2

Movement patterns: Not a Migrant

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The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens
Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™