Devils+Hole+Pupfish+2010

By: Laycee C

The Devil’s Hole Pupfish are less than one inch long and resemble other pupfish in shape. They lack pelvic fins, have giant heads, and have long anal fins. Breeding males are solid deep blue and have a black band on the caudal fin. It is the smallest pupfish species. The Devil’s Hole Pupfish is a species native to the Devil’s Hole, a geothermal aquifer-fed pool in a limestone cavern. It is located in the Desert of Neveda, USA, east of Death Valley. The pupfish depend on a low submerged limestone shelf for a habitat. These fish are endangered because of their fragile ecosystem being disrupted. Part of that is due to the natural threats from flash flood and earthquakes. The other part is due to groundwater depletion from agricultural irrigation. We can save these pupfish by monitoring the water level and when it gets too shallow, either put in more water, or move them to a better habitat. Also we can help by protecting the Devil’s Hole from flash floods and earthquakes. Lastly, we can save them by not using groundwater for irrigation.