Bluehead Chub,  Nocomis leptocephalus

 
Physical Description: 
·	Stocky body
·	Dorsal fin origin above or a little behind the pelvic fin origin
·	Small to medium eye
·	Very large head tubercles
·	Pointed snout with large, subterminal mouth
·	Medium-sized tail fin with rounded lobes
·	Olive or brown sides
·	Dorsal and tail fins orange to orange-red
·	Orange or yellowish fins
·	Breeding males have a blue head 

Similar species: 
·	River chub (Nocomis micropogon)

Mean body size:
·	Adults are 70-160 mm standard length 

Habitat:
·	Cool, clear, rocky streams 

Distribution in VA:
·	Atlantic slope, New, and Tennessee drainages

Food Habits:  
·	Insects and plants

Reproductive Habits: 
·	Matures in 3 years
·	Spawning occurs late April to early July in water 12.5-25.3°C
·	Males build gravel mounds and a pit near logs, boulders, or banks
·	Fecundity is 710-800 eggs per female 

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
·	Common nests seen in streams 

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. 

Goldfish Carp Grass Carp Silver Carp Golden Shiner Mtn. Redbelly Dace So. Redbelly Dace Rosyside Dace Longnose Dace Blacknose Dace Blacknose Dace Stoneroller Pearl Dace Fallfish Tonguetied Minnow Creek Chub Cutlips Minnow Bull Chub Bluehead Chub River Chub Slender Chub Streamline Chub Blotched Chub Kanawha Minnow Fatlips Minnow Stargazing Minnow Bigeye Chub Highback Chub Spotfin Chub Bigmouth Chub Whitetail Shiner Steelcolor Shiner Satinfin Shiner Spotfin Shiner Warpaint Shiner Crescent Shiner White Shiner Common Shiner Striped Shiner Mountain Shiner Rosefin Shiner Rosyface Shiner Tennessee Shiner Saffron Shiner Redlip Shiner Silver Shiner Popeye Shiner Telescope Shiner New River Shiner Sawfin Shiner Mirror Shiner Swallowtail Shiner Emerald Shiner Spottail Shiner Bridle Shiner Swallowtail Shiner Fieryblack Shiner Turquoise Shiner Fathead Minnow Fallfish Continue Browsing Families..... Petromyzontidae, Lampreys Polyodontidae, Paddlefish Acipenseridae, Sturgeons Lepisosteidae, Gars Amiidae, Bowfins Anguillidae, Freshwater Eels Amblyopsidae, Cavefishes Ictaluridae, Catfish Percopsidae, Trout-Perches Salmonidae, Trouts Clupeidae, Herrings Esocidae, Pikes Aphredoderidae, Pirate Perches Umbridae, Mudminnows Fundulidae, Killifishes Poeciliidae, Livebearers Cyprinidae, Minnows Catostomidae, Suckers Gasterosteidae, Sticklebacks Atherinidae, Silversides Cottidae, Sculpins Sciaenidae, Drums Percidae, Perches Moronidae, Striped Basses Centrarchidae, Sunfishes