Description and ecology of larvae and juveniles of three native cypriniforms of coastal southern California

Larval series of the Santa Ana sucker, Catostomus santaanae (Federally Threatened), arroyo chub, Gila orcutti (California Species of Special Concern), and Santa Ana speckled dace, Rhinichthys osculus (California Species of Special Concern) are described from wild-caught specimens from the Los Angeles and Santa Ana river drainages. Santa Ana sucker larvae are elongate, having 41–46 myomeres and a distinctive paired-triangle patch of melanophores over the midbrain. Melanophores present on the snout, dorsal body, lateral midline, dorsal gut, postanal ventral body, and caudal fin. Preanal length 74–79% in body length (BL), typical of catostomids. Arroyo chub larvae relatively deep-bodied, 36–39 myomeres, and a heart-shaped patch of melanophores over the midbrain with a line of melanophores trailing posteriorly. Heavy pigment present on the snout, lower jaw, dorsal body, lateral midline, gill arches, dorsal gut, postanal ventral body, and caudal fin; short preanal length of 65–72% BL, typical of native North American cyprinids. Santa Ana speckled dace are similar to arroyo chub except for having less pigment on the ventral gut, large distinct melanophores on the ventrolateral caudal peduncle, a wedge-shaped patch of midbrain melanophores with no distinct line trailing posteriorly, and lateral midline melanophores that do not extend anteriorly. These three species often occur together and with nonnative cyprinids. Characters distinguishing them from other local larvae, including southern fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas confertus and red shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis, are discussed with their habitat preferences.