What is cui-ui fish?

Cui-ui fish (Chasmistes cujus) are a type of endemic fish species found only in the Pyramid Lake located in Nevada, USA. They are an important part of the ecosystem and are also of cultural importance to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, who consider the fish to be sacred.

Cui-ui usually grow up to two feet long and have an elongated body with a silvery brown color. They have a small, pointed head, and the dorsal fin runs almost the entire length of their body. Cui-ui fish typically live for 10 years, and females can lay thousands of eggs each breeding season.

These fish are classified as endangered due to several factors, mainly habitat loss, poaching, overfishing, and hybridization with other fish species. The cui-ui are also affected by the upstream diversion of the Truckee River. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other organizations are working to preserve and conserve the cui-ui and their habitat, including monitoring the population, restoring their spawning grounds, and controlling invasive species.