Identification
A slender, pencil-like tail base connects the body to the tail fin. Large fins, a relatively small head and a subdued hump behind it distinguish the overall shape. The back is gray or olive, the sides silvery and the belly pale.
Size and Weight
The species summary reports a maximum total length of 62 cm, about 24.4 inches. An agency account describes fish reaching about two pounds, approximately 0.91 kg. This is a reported large size, not a certified maximum-weight record, and it is separate from the maximum-length report.
Habitat and Natural Food
Bonytail use main-river pools and eddies; observations also include flowing pools and backwaters over mud or rock. Foods span insects, crustaceans, plants and seeds, with occasional small fish and other animals. Its diet is therefore broader than a purely plant-based one.
Reproduction and Recovery
Spawning has been observed along rocky reservoir shores and in off-channel floodplain wetlands. Recovery programs stock fish at several locations. This profile provides natural-history context rather than a recommendation to target this imperiled native fish.
The Bony Tail Behind the Name
The narrow section immediately before the tail is the most memorable part of its outline. That shape accompanies large fins and a streamlined body. It is a useful identification clue, but related Colorado River chubs still require careful comparison.
All Lakes With Bonytail
Browse all lakes and reservoirs with confirmed Bonytail records in our database, listed alphabetically.
No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.