Woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus)

Scientific name: Plagopterus argentissimus Cope, 1874

The Woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae.

Biology

Inhabits fast sandy runs of small to medium rivers, usually in warm turbid water. Sometimes in pools. Most commonly found in shallow, moderately flowing water over shifting sand substrates. Spawning in the Virgin river begins in April to May and continues through August.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Plagopterus argentissimus
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 10.0
Environment: Freshwater; demersal
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: North America: Virgin and Gila River systems (both lower Colorado River drainage) in Utah, Nevada and Arizona, USA. Now believed extirpated in Gila River system. Listed as Vulnerable (VU - D2) in IUCN 2004 and listed in Appendix II of CITES.
Conservation status (IUCN): Vulnerable (VU) (D2)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=4)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026