WIXLIB

Fish Identification

References Hubbs, C., R.J. Edwards, and G.P. Garrett. 2008. An annotatedchecklist of the freshwater fishes of Texas, with keys to identificationof species. Texas Academy of Science. Available from:http://www.texasacademyofscience.org/ Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 2011. Peterson Field Guide to FreshwaterFishes, second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade andReference Publishers. Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department ofConservation. Thomas, C., T.H. Bonner, and B.G. Whiteside. 2007. FreshwaterFishes of Texas. Texas A&M University Press, College Station,Texas. Robison, H.W. and T.M. Buchanan. 1988. Fishes of Arkansas. TheUniversity of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Gars Ganoid scales Beaklike snoutAlligator Gar: Teeth on upper jaw in two rows

GarsSpotted Gar: One row of teeth on upper jaw, Snout shortLongnose Gar: One row of teeth on upper jaw, Snout long and narrow

Herrings Lateral line absent Keel along bellyGizzard Shad: Subterminal mouth, blunt snout, large spotThreadfin Shad: Terminal mouth, pointed snout, small spot

Minnows

Campostoma Cartilaginous ridge on lower jaw Intestine long, wound around air bladderChad Thomas

Cyprinella Typically deep-bodied minnows Dorsal fin with pigment between raysRed Shiner: Dark shoulder patch, chin bar

Blacktail Shiner: Distinct caudal spot

Cyprinella

NotemigonusGolden Shiner: Lateral line greatly decurved

MacrhybopsisChad ThomasChubs: Maxillary barbels present, most with specklingDifferentiate by location

DiondaChad ThomasRoundnose Minnows: Black band through eye and around snout,Caudal spot, long coiled intestinesDifferentiate by location

PimephalesBullhead Minnow: Crowded predorsal scales, caudal spotDorsal fin pigment

Pimephales

Notropis Typically slender-bodied, silver minnowsSabine ShinerSmalleye ShinerSilverband ShinerIroncolor ShinerWeed ShinerChihuahua ShinerTaillight ShinerPhotos: Chad Thomas

Elevated scales Ghost Shiner and Mimic ShinerChad Thomas

CyprinusCommon Carp: Upper jaw with barbels, long dorsal fin with serrated spine

Suckers Mouth adapted for sucking Pharyngeal teeth comblike, more than 7

IctiobusSmallmouth Buffalo: Deep-bodied, long dorsal fin, subopercle rounded

CarpiodesRiver Carpsucker: Deep-bodied, long dorsal fin, subopercle traingular

MoxostomaGray Redhorse: Elongate body, Short Dorsal fin

Bullhead Catfishes Caudal fin emarginate, adipose fin freeBlack Bullhead: Dark chin barbelsYellow Bullhead: Light chin barbels

Flathead Catfish Caudal fin emarginate, adipose fin free Head depressed dorsally

Channel Catfish: Forked tail, rounded anal fish with 24-29 raysBlue Catfish: Forked tail, straight anal fish with 30-36 rays

Madtoms Rounded caudal fin, adipose fin connectedTadpole Madtom: Jaws equalChad ThomasFreckled Madtom: Lower jaw underslung

Suckermouth Catfishes Armored scales dorsally, unscaled ventrally Dorsal fin ray count differentiates genus

Livebearers Males with modified anal fin, GonopodiumGambusia: Dorsal fin behind anal fin, rounded caudal finMales smaller and with gonopodium

KillifishesBlackstripe Topminnow: Spots lighter than stripeBlackspot Topminnow: Spots as dark/darker than stripe

Sunfishes, Black BassesLargemouth Bass: Dorsal fin with deep notchMouth extends beyond eye in adultsNo tooth patch on tongue

Guadalupe, Spotted Bass: Dorsal fin with shallow notchMouth doesn’t extend beyond eye in adultsTooth patch on tongueDifferentiate based on location, habitat

Crappie Dorsal fin with 6-8 spinesWhite Crappie: 6 dorsal fin spinesBlack Crappie: Checkerboard pattern, 7-8 dorsal fin spines

Warmouth: Large mouth (Bass-like), tooth patch on tongueLong gill rakers

Redear Sunfish: Small mouth, Long pectoral finOpercle stiff

BluegillLongear SunfishGreen SunfishOrangespotted SunfishRedear SunfishRedbreast SunfishPhotos: Chad Thomas

Redspotted Sunfish: Rows of red spots on adultsShort pectoral fins, Opercle stiff, Med gill rakers

Temperate Basses Opercle with a spine Two dorsal finsWhite Bass: Dorsal fins separateTeeth in single patch on tongueStripes continuous

Striped Bass: Dorsal fins separateTeeth in two patches on tongueStripes continuous

CichlidsRio Grande Cichlid: Anal fin spines 5-6Two dark spots: one mid-body, one caudal

Tilapia: Anal fin spines less than 5Gill rakers and teeth differentiate species

Perches Two dorsal fins, Elongated bodies

PercinaPercina darters: With dark rectangular/round lateral blotchesLogperch: Conical snout, very elongateBody with alternating dark, light stripes

EtheostomaDarters: Typically smaller than PercinaBars or mottled patternBreeding colors in males

DrumFreshwater Drum: Deep-bodied, long dorsal finLittle pigment, mouth inferior

Black Bullhead: Dark chin barbels Yellow Bullhead: Light chin barbels Caudal fin emarginate, adipose fin free. Flathead Catfish Caudal fin emarginate, adipose fin free Head depressed dorsally. Blue