Hardhead

Hardhead (Mylopharodon conocephalus) are large cyprinids endemic to California. Young fish are silvery in color, while adults are more dusky brown or bronze with silvery sides. Adult hardhead can reach up to 60 cm in standard length in larger streams. Some adult males develop bumps known as tubercles on their snout and along the sides of their bodies during breeding season. Although they can look similar to and occupy the same habitats as Sacramento pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis), hardhead are the sole member of the genus Mylopharodon. The typical adult livespan is 9 to 10 years. Hardhead are omnivores, but their diets change slightly as they develop teeth. Juveniles feed on aquatic insect larvae and small molluscs like snails, while adult fish eat more plants, crayfish, and other large invertebrates. They prefer warmer water temperatures but do not tolerate low-oxygen environments well. They are normally found in clear, deep, slower moving streams and rivers. Hardhead spawn in the spring, typically from April to May.

Fun fact: Some hardhead have been known to travel up to 75 km to find spawning habitat.