Pahrump Poolfish (Empetrichthys latos)
Historically, the Pahrump poolfish was found only in Manse Springs in Nye County, Nevada . The Pahrump poolfish, family
Goodeidae, was discovered by Gilbert in 1893, but was incorrectly identified as the Ash Meadows killifish (Empetrichthys merriami). By 1991 the correct name, poolfish, was established. In 1975, the Manse Springs dried up due to excess groundwater pumping resulting in the loss of all but 29 of the fish. In an attempt to save the species it was placed on the endangered species list in 1967. Three populations of Pahrump poolfish have been established at Corn Creek Spring in the Desert National Wildlife Range, north of Las Vegas, Nevada; Shoshone Springs southeast of Ely, Nevada; and Lake Harriet at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park west of Las Vegas, Nevada. Those at Corn Creek were repopulated from the Spring Mountain Ranch group, when their initial transplant fish were destroyed by predators.
Historically, the Pahrump poolfish was found only in Manse Springs in Nye County, Nevada . The Pahrump poolfish, family
Goodeidae, was discovered by Gilbert in 1893, but was incorrectly identified as the Ash Meadows killifish (Empetrichthys merriami). By 1991 the correct name, poolfish, was established. In 1975, the Manse Springs dried up due to excess groundwater pumping resulting in the loss of all but 29 of the fish. In an attempt to save the species it was placed on the endangered species list in 1967. Three populations of Pahrump poolfish have been established at Corn Creek Spring in the Desert National Wildlife Range, north of Las Vegas, Nevada; Shoshone Springs southeast of Ely, Nevada; and Lake Harriet at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park west of Las Vegas, Nevada. Those at Corn Creek were repopulated from the Spring Mountain Ranch group, when their initial transplant fish were destroyed by predators.
Manse Spring had a constant temperature of 76ºF. There, the Pahrump poolfish inhabited all areas of the spring, with the larger fish using the more open and deeper waters. The young were found in shallower, more weedy areas, and closer to the surface of the water. The Poolfish, which grows to about 2 inches in length and lives for almost three years, should not be confused with the Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) found at the Devil’s Hole at Ash Meadows. It is believed that these fish have been here since the southern portion of the state was covered with warm shallow lakes. Over time the lakes receded and streams were formed, and as the streams dried up, isolated pools were formed and represented the only remaining habitat for the fish. The Poolfish has adapted to each climate change. Now man seems to be the most common threat to its existence, primarily due to depletion of groundwater near the springs and vandalism. The Poolfish still falls under the category of an endangered species.