The Rio Grande chub (Gila pandora) is a cyprinid fish endemic to the United States.

It inhabits the upper Rio Grande and Pecos River systems in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

The Rio Grande chub is native to most of its current range including all three of the states it can be found in.

There are currently no studies showing how the Rio Grande chub is impacting waterways in its non-native range.

[2] Natural hybridization can occur between the Rio Grande chub and the longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae).

[3] Physical characteristics that can be used to identify the Rio Grande chub include the head, eyes, tail, and size.

[4] More detailed identification can be achieved by counting the number of scales that make up this fish's lateral line.

One study did show that Rio Grande chub have a higher success rate when they prey on larvae with smaller cases.

[5] The Rio Grande chub does not currently have any federal protections or listings under the Endangered Species Act.

[5] One of the largest factors that has been attributed to the decline of the Rio Grande chub is the introduction of other non-native fishes.

Other non-natives like Common carp and northern pike are also suspected to prey on the Rio Grande chub at various stages along its life cycle.

Impoundments such as dams and diversions have fragmented this fish's habitat and interfere with its migration and colonization efforts.

[5] All of these factors, and many more, change the chemistry and geometry of Rio Grande chub habitat which negatively impacts the fish.

Other efforts focus on protecting the vegetation that is critical for Rio Grande chub habitat.

New regulations are also intended to limit the amount of livestock grazing in riparian areas and prohibit bad land use practices that increase erosion and the sediment load in the water.