Northern leatherside chub

The northern leatherside chub is morphologically similar to the southern leatherside chub, and both species were formerly considered a single species under the name Gila copei. Both species of leatherside chubs appear to be phylogenetically close to spinedaces (genus Lepidomeda) and the spikedaces (genus Meda).^[2] Currently, FishBase classifies northern and southern leatherside chub as distinct species within the genus Lepidomeda.^[3] This placement was verified using mtDNA 12S rRNA sequence data.^[2][4]

This species is small, reported at up to 15 cm (6 in) in length, but more typically half that size. The body is covered with very small scales over a skin with a leathery texture, inspiring the common name.^[5] Overall coloration is bluish dorsally and silver ventrally; males are distinguished by patches of orange-red color on the axils of the paired fins, at the base of the anal fin, and along the lower lobe of the caudal fin, as well as golden-red specks at the upper end of the gill opening, and between eye and upper jaw. Unlike most other minnows, both dorsal and anal fins have eight rays.^[5][3] This species also exhibits a fusiform body shape with forked homocercal caudal fins. Although southern and northern leatherside chub are similar, the rostrum of the southern leatherside chub comes to a more defined point than the northern leatherside chub.^[6]

Northern leatherside chub range from the upper Snake River system in Idaho and Wyoming to the Weber River in Utah.^[5] They have also been introduced into the Colorado River system, such as Strawberry Reservoir and Price River in Utah.^[7] However, it is uncertain whether these introductions are northern leatherside chub or southern leatherside chub.^[8] The northern leatherside chub prefer cooler creeks and rivers with moderate currents. Adults congregate in pools or riffles, while the young favor quiet areas with brush near the shore.^{[citation needed]}

Both northern and southern leatherside dace are invertivores, consuming both aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Taxa of prey include Odonata, Trichoptera, Plecoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Isopoda, and Amphipoda.^[9]

The northern leatherside chub is considered a species of greatest conservation need in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming.^[10][11][12] Across its range, the northern leatherside chub is threatened by habitat degradation caused by water abstraction for irrigation, channelization, damming, urbanization, and poor farming practices which lead to siltation.^[1] Additional threats include predation from nonnative brown trout (Salmo trutta) and drought.