Colorado Pikeminnow

The Colorado pikeminnow is the largest minnow of North America with reports of individuals up to 6 feet long. Today, researchers commonly see adult Colorado pikeminnow that are 2 to 3 feet in length. Now an endangered species, the Colorado pikeminnow is native to the Colorado River Basin and was once abundant in the main stem of the River and most of its major tributaries in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.

Thought to have evolved more than three million years ago, this fish was formerly an important food for both Native Americans and European Settlers. The Colorado pikeminnow can live up to 40 years and are known for long-distance spawning migrations of more than 200 miles in late spring and early summer.