How did the tequila Splitfin recover?

Did you know Chester Zoo was involved in the Tequila splitfin reintroduction?

‘Not only has Chester Zoo been involved technically and financially, the breeders, which became the founding population for the reintroduction of the tequila splitfin, originated at Chester Zoo.

How many splitfin fish have been restored to the Teuchitlán River?

Thanks to conservationists from Chester Zoo and the Michoacan University, 1,500 of the 3-inch-long tequila splitfin fish have been restored to the springs of the Teuchitlán River.

What can we learn from splitfin fish?

Professor Omar Dominguez, from the university, said: “The tequila splitfin has, for many years, been used by scientists to study the evolution, biogeography and live bearing reproduction techniques of fishes and is a very important species.

Did Chester Zoo help bring back the Tequila splitfin?

“Not only has Chester Zoo been involved technically and financially, the breeders, which became the founding population for the reintroduction of the tequila splitfin, originated at Chester Zoo. “Without the zoo population keeping the species alive for many years, this fish would have been lost forever.

Is the Tequila splitfin extinct?

The Tequila splitfin (Zoogoneticus tequila) is considered as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List and in the Mexican Legislation (NOM-059) list. However, according to our field surveys data it is now considered extinct in its natural habitat in the Teuchitlán river (Jalisco, Mexico).

Can Tequila fish be returned to the wild?

© Provided by Evening StandardConservationists from Michoacana University of Mexico return the tequila fish to the wild (Chester Zoo/PA) “Not only has Chester Zoo been involved technically and financially, the breeders, which became the founding population for the reintroduction of the tequila splitfin, originated at Chester Zoo.

Why did the Tequila Fish go extinct in Mexico?

fish which became extinct in Mexico has been reintroduced to the wild with the help of conservationists from a UK zoo. The tequila fish, which grows no longer than 70 millimetres, disappeared completely from the wild in 2003 following the introduction of invasive, exotic fish species and water pollution.

Is this the first time an extinct fish has been reintroduced?

‘This is the first time an extinct species of fish has ever been successfully reintroduced in Mexico and so it’s a real landmark for conservation,’ said biologist Omar Dominguez of the Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo in Mexico.

How many Tequila fish have been released into the wild?

After four years in the artificial ponds, scientists estimate that the Tequila fish population increased to some 10,000 individuals. It was from these ponds that scientists took 1,500 fish to release into the wild.

Can the Tequila splitfin recover from extinction?

The Mexican Fish Ark based at the University of Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo has been breeding several species of endangered goodeids, including the Tequila Splitfin. In 2017, the conservationists released about 700 Tequila Splitfins back into the wild and hope that the species can recover.

What is the Tequila splitfin and why is it important?

‘The tequila splitfin has, for many years, been used by scientists to study the evolution, biogeography and live bearing reproduction techniques of fishes and is a very important species. We could not stand back and allow it to disappear,’ said Professor Dominguez.

Why should we save fish from extinction?

‘Successfully reinstating this fish in the wild also offers a wider positive impact. Not only has the fish itself been saved, but the environment it lives in has been restored.

Is this the ‘charismatic little fish’ declared extinct in the wild?

A “charismatic little fish” declared extinct in the wild has been reintroduced to its native Mexico after being bred in an aquarium at Chester zoo. The tequila fish ( Zoogoneticus tequila ), which grows to no bigger than 70mm long, disappeared from the wild in 2003 owing to the introduction of invasive, exotic fish species and water pollution.

How did they reintroduce the fish to the wild?

In preparation for the reintroduction, 40 males and 40 females from the colony were released into large, artificial ponds at the university, essentially training the captive-reared fish to a wild setting with fluctuating food resources, potential competitors, parasites, and predators.

How many Tequila fish does it take to create a colony?

These 10 tequila fish would create a new colony in the university’s laboratory, maintained by scientists over the next 15 years. In preparation for reintroduction, 40 males and 40 females from the colony were released into artificial ponds, where researchers could assess how the fish responded to a semi-natural environment.

How many Tequila fish have been reintroduced to Mexico?

More than 1,500 tequila fish have now been returned to the Teuchitlan River, south-west Mexico. fish which became extinct in Mexico has been reintroduced to the wild with the help of conservationists from a UK zoo.

What is the history of the Tequila Fish Story?

It began more than two decades ago in Teuchitlán, a town near the Tequila volcano. A half-dozen students, among them Omar Domínguez, began to worry about the little fish that fit in the palm of a hand and had only ever been seen in the Teuchitlán river.

What is the scientific name of the Tequila splitfin?

A single male of the Tequila Splitfin was sampled in 1955 by Miller and Greenbank, but identified erroneously as Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis, with which species it was collected and found sympatrically .

How many Tequila splitfin snakes in a brood?

Brood sizes may number from 5 up to 30, depending on the age and size of the female. A single male of the Tequila Splitfin was sampled in 1955 by Miller and Greenbank, but identified erroneously as Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis, with which species it was collected and found sympatrically .

Where do you find Tequila fish in the wild?

Z. tequila can be naturally found in clear, clean freshwater springs, ponds and shallow lagoons. Typically, such bodies of water contain sandy/gravel substrates, rocks and plentiful emergent plant growth such as rushes and reeds. As per most other livebearing fish species, females are considerably larger than males in both length and body size.