Where Does Sacramento Splittail Live?

Sacramento Splittail lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Sacramento Splittail

Water type

brackish

Depth

Typically found in shallow, slow-moving waters, especially during spawning, but can inhabit deeper channels during non-spawning periods. Prefers depths of 1-5 meters (3-16 feet).

Environment

Primarily found in the freshwater and brackish portions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, including sloughs, channels, and floodplains. They utilize seasonally inundated floodplains for spawning and rearing. Tolerant of a wide range of salinities, from fresh to moderately brackish (up to 10-18 ppt).

Geographic range

Endemic to the Central Valley of California, specifically the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and its major tributaries (Sacramento, San Joaquin, Feather, and American Rivers), as well as Suisun Bay and Napa River.

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