Hardmouth

Gila alutacea

Hard jaw plate scrapes rocks

Temperate
Northern Hemisphere
Regional distribution
Freshwater fish
North America
Fusiform
Medium
Temperate fish

The chiselmouth (Gila alutacea) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Leuciscidae. This fish is found in western North America. It is named for the sharp hard plate on its lower jaw, which is used to scrape rocks for algae.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Minnows, Carps, and Loaches
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Gila
Maximum length: 30 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: North America: Fraser and Columbia River drainages in British Columbia in Canada, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada in USA; Harney River basin in Oregon, USA.

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