Bluehead Chub
Nocomis leptocephalus
About This Fish

The Bluehead Chub is found in Gulf and Atlantic coast drainages from Louisiana to Virginia, including the Mobile Basin, as well as the New River System of the Ohio River Drainage. They have been introduced into the upper Tennessee River Drainage in North Carolina and Tennessee. They live in runs and pools of creeks to small rivers over a variety of substrate. As the common name suggests, breeding male Bluehead Chubs have a blue coloration and a large hump on their head. Like other members of the genus Nocomis, breeding male Bluehead Chubs build nests by moving gravel with their mouth one rock at a time. Other species of minnows will also lay their eggs over these nests.