''Crenichthys'' is a genus of fish in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Empetrichthyinae Empetrichthyinae is a subfamily of fishes, one of two subfamilies that make up the family Goodeidae. Genera There are two genera within the subfamily Empetrichthyinae: * '' Crenichthys'' Hubbs, 1932 * '' Empetrichthys'' Gilbert Gilbert may refe ...

which is part of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Goodeidae Goodeidae is a family of teleost fish endemic to Mexico and some areas of the United States. Many species are known as splitfins. This family contains about 50 species within 18 genera. The family is named after ichthyologist George Brown Goode ...

, the splitfins. This small genus consists of two species which are both

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...

in the United States. They occur in small populations in isolated warm springs. Fish of this genus are known commonly as springfish. Distinctive characteristics include the loss of the

pelvic fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two en ...

s, a relatively large

anal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

and one or two rows of black spots along each side.

Species

The two recognized species in this genus: * ''

Crenichthys baileyi The White River springfish (''Crenichthys baileyi'') is a species of fish in the family Goodeidae, the splitfins. It is a rare species of the Great Basin of western United States, where it is endemic to isolated warm springs in the White River ...

'' ( C. H. Gilbert, 1893) ** ''Crenichthys baileyi albivallis'' J. E. Williams & G. R. Wilde, 1981 – Preston White River springfish ** ''Crenichthys baileyi baileyi'' (C. H. Gilbert, 1893) – White River springfish ** ''Crenichthys baileyi grandis'' J. E. Williams & G. R. Wilde, 1981 – Hiko White River springfish ** ''Crenichthys baileyi moapae'' J. E. Williams & G. R. Wilde, 1981 – Moapa White River springfish ** ''Crenichthys baileyi thermophilus'' J. E. Williams & G. R. Wilde, 1981 – Mormon White River springfish * '' Crenichthys nevadae'' C. L. Hubbs, 1932 – Railroad Valley springfish

References

Empetrichthyinae Freshwater fish genera Taxa named by Carl Leavitt Hubbs Ray-finned fish genera {{Cyprinodontiformes-stub