Texas has an exceptional diversity of marine and freshwater fish found in its waters. the following is a list of species, both native and introduced.
Native Freshwater species Order Acipenseriformes
Family Acipenseridae (Sturgeons)
Genus Acipenser Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi (Gulf Sturgeon) Vulnerable, anadromous Genus Scaphirhynchus Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Shovelnose Sturgeon) Scaphirhynchus albus (Pallid Sturgeon) Endangered
Order Lepisosteiformes
Family Lepisosteidae (Gars)
Genus Atractosteus Atractosteus spatula (Alligator Gar) Genus Lepisosteus Lepisosteus oculatus (Spotted Gar) Lepisosteus osseus (Longnose Gar) Lepisosteus platostomus (Shortnose Gar)
Order Amiiformes
Family Amiidae (Bowfins)
Genus Amia Amia calva (Bowfin)
Order Cypriniformes
Family Cyprinidae (Carps and Minnows)
Genus Campostoma Campostoma anomalum (Central Stoneroller) Campostoma oligolepis (Largescale Stoneroller) Genus Clinostomus Clinostomus funduloides (Rosyside Dace) Genus Codoma Codoma ornata (Ornate Shiner) Genus Cyprinella Cyprinella lutrensis (Red Shiner) Cyprinella proserpina (Proserpine Shiner) Cyprinella venusta (Blacktail Shiner) Genus Ericymba Ericymba buccata (Silverjaw Minnow) Genus Erimyzon Erimyzon oblongus (Creek Chubsucker) Erimyzon tenuis (Sharpfin Chubsucker) Genus Hybognathus Hybognathus nuchalis (Mississippi Silvery Minnow) Genus Hybopsis Hybopsis amblops (Bigeye Chub) Extirpated? Genus Luxilus Luxilus chrysocephalus (Striped Shiner) Genus Lythrurus Lythrurus fumeus (Ribbon Shiner) Lythrurus umbratilis (Redfin Shiner) Genus Macrhybopsis Macrhybopsis aestivalis (Speckled Chub) Macrhybopsis australis (Prairie Chub) Macrhybopsis hyostoma (Shoal Chub) Macrhybopsis marconis (Burrhead Chub) Macrhybopsis storeriana (Silver Chub) Genus Nocomis Nocomis asper (Redspot Chub) Genus Notemigonus Notemigonus crysoleucas (Golden Shiner) Genus Notropis Notropis amabilis (Texas Shiner) Notropis amecae (Ameca Shiner) Extirpated? Notropis atrocaudalis (Blackspot Shiner) Notropis bairdi (Red River Shiner) Notropis buccula (Smalleye Shiner) Threatened Notropis buchanani (Ghost Shiner) Notropis chalybaeus (Ironcolor Shiner) Notropis chihuahua (Chihuahua Shiner) Notropis girardi (Arkansas River Shiner) Threatened Notropis jemezanus (Rio Grande Shiner) Notropis orca (Phantom Shiner) Extinct Notropis ortenburgeri (Kiamichi Shiner) Notropis oxyrhynchus (Sharpnose Shiner) Threatened Notropis potteri (Chub Shiner) Notropis shumardi (Silverband Shiner) Notropis simus (Bluntnose Shiner) Extinct Notropis stramineus (Sand Shiner) Notropis telescopus (Telescope Shiner) Notropis texanus (Weed Shiner) Notropis volucellus (Mimic Shiner) Genus Opsopoeodus Opsopoeodus emiliae (Pugnose Minnow) Genus Phenacobius Phenacobius mirabilis (Suckermouth Minnow) Genus Pimephales Pimephales vigilax (Bullhead Minnow) Genus Plagopterus Plagopterus argentissimus (Woundfin) Extirpated? Genus Pteronotropis Pteronotropis hubbsi (Bluehead Shiner) Genus Rhinichthys Rhinichthys cataractae (Longnose Dace) Genus Richardsonius Richardsonius balteatus (Redside Shiner) Extirpated? Genus Semotilus Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub) Genus Tampichthys Tampichthys ipni (Largemouth Shiner)
Order Catostomiformes
Family Catostomidae (Suckers)
Genus Carpiodes Carpiodes carpio (River Carpsucker) Carpiodes cyprinus (Quillback) Carpiodes velifer (Highfin Carpsucker) Genus Cycleptus Cycleptus elongatus (Blue Sucker) Vulnerable Genus Hypentelium Hypentelium nigricans (Northern Hogsucker) Genus Ictiobus Ictiobus bubalus (Smallmouth Buffalo) Ictiobus cyprinellus (Bigmouth Buffalo) Ictiobus niger (Black Buffalo) Genus Minytrema Minytrema melanops (Spotted Sucker) Genus Moxostoma Moxostoma anisurum (Silver Redhorse) Moxostoma austrinum (Mexican Redhorse) Moxostoma carinatum (River Redhorse) Moxostoma congestum (Gray Redhorse) Moxostoma duquesnei (Black Redhorse) Moxostoma erythrurum (Golden Redhorse) Moxostoma poecilurum (Blacktail Redhorse) Moxostoma valenciennesi (Greater Redhorse) Extirpated?
Order Siluriformes
Family Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes)
Genus Ameiurus Ameiurus melas (Black Bullhead) Ameiurus natalis (Yellow Bullhead) Ameiurus nebulosus (Brown Bullhead) Rare Genus Ictalurus Ictalurus furcatus (Blue Catfish) Ictalurus lupus (Headwater Catfish) Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish) Genus Noturus Noturus exilis (Slender Madtom) Noturus flavus (Stonecat) Noturus gyrinus (Tadpole Madtom) Noturus lacustris (Orangefin Madtom) Extirpated? Noturus leptacanthus (Speckled Madtom) Noturus miurus (Brindled Madtom) Noturus nocturnus (Freckled Madtom) Noturus phaeus (Brown Madtom) Noturus taylori (Caddo Madtom) Genus Pylodictis Pylodictis olivaris (Flathead Catfish)
Order Esociformes
Family Esocidae (Pikes)
Genus Esox Esox americanus (Redfin Pickerel) Esox lucius (Northern Pike) Extirpated? Esox masquinongy (Muskellunge) Introduced
Order Osmeriformes
Family Osmeridae (Smelts)
Genus Osmerus Osmerus mordax (Rainbow Smelt) Introduced
Order Cyprinodontiformes
Family Fundulidae (Topminnows)
Genus Adinia Adinia xenica (Diamond Killifish) Genus Fundulus Fundulus blairae (Western Starhead Topminnow) Fundulus chrysotus (Golden Topminnow) Fundulus dispar (Starhead Topminnow) Fundulus grandis (Gulf Killifish) Fundulus julisia (Barrens Topminnow) Introduced Fundulus kansae (Northern Plains Killifish) Fundulus notatus (Blackstripe Topminnow) Fundulus nottii (Bayou Topminnow) Fundulus olivaceus (Blackspotted Topminnow) Fundulus pulvereus (Bayou Killifish) Fundulus sciadicus (Plains Topminnow) Fundulus zebrinus (Plains Killifish)
Family Profundulidae (Middle American Killifishes)
Genus Profundulus Profundulus candalarius (Banderilla) Extirpated? Profundulus punctatus (Oaxaca Killifish) Extirpated?
Family Goodeidae (Splitfins)
Genus Characodon Characodon garmani (Parras Pupfish) Extinct Genus Goodea Goodea atripinnis (Blackfin Goodea) Extirpated?
Family Rivulidae (New World Rivulines)
Genus Rivulus Rivulus marmoratus (Mangrove Rivulus) Rare vagrant
Family Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
Genus Gambusia Gambusia affinis (Western Mosquitofish) Gambusia amistadensis (Amistad Gambusia) Extinct Gambusia clarkhubbsi (San Felipe Gambusia) Gambusia gaigei (Big Bend Gambusia) Endangered Gambusia geiseri (Largespring Gambusia) Gambusia georgei (San Marcos Gambusia) Extinct Gambusia heterochir (Clear Creek Gambusia) Endangered Gambusia hispaniolae (Dominican Gambusia) Introduced Gambusia hurtadoi (Crescent Gambusia) Gambusia krumholzi (Spotfin Gambusia) Gambusia nobilis (Pecos Gambusia) Endangered Gambusia senilis (Blotched Gambusia) Genus Heterandria Heterandria formosa (Least Killifish) Genus Poecilia Poecilia formosa (Amazon Molly) Poecilia latipinna (Sailfin Molly) Poecilia mexicana (Shortfin Molly) Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) Introduced Genus Xiphophorus Xiphophorus couchianus (Monterrey Platyfish) Extinct in wild Xiphophorus gordoni (Mountain Platyfish) Xiphophorus meyeri (Marbled Swordtail) Extinct? Xiphophorus variatus (Variable Platyfish)
Order Beloniformes
Family Belonidae (Needlefishes)
Genus Strongylura Strongylura marina (Atlantic Needlefish) Brackish/Marine Strongylura notata (Redfin Needlefish) Brackish/Marine Strongylura timucu (Timucu) Brackish/Marine
Family Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)
Genus Hyporhamphus Hyporhamphus meeki (False Silverstripe Halfbeak) Brackish/Marine Hyporhamphus unifasciatus (Common Halfbeak) Brackish/Marine
Order Synbranchiformes
Family Synbranchidae (Swamp Eels)
Genus Ophisternon Ophisternon infernale (Blind Swamp Eel) Cave-dwelling, endangered
Order Gasterosteiformes
Family Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks)
Genus Gasterosteus Gasterosteus aculeatus (Threespine Stickleback) Rare, introduced?
Order Perciformes
Family Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Genus Ambloplites Ambloplites ariommus (Shadow Bass) Ambloplites rupestris (Rock Bass) Introduced Genus Lepomis Lepomis auritus (Redbreast Sunfish) Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish) Lepomis gulosus (Warmouth) Lepomis humilis (Orangespotted Sunfish) Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill) Lepomis marginatus (Dollar Sunfish) Lepomis megalotis (Longear Sunfish) Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish) Lepomis miniatus (Redspotted Sunfish) Lepomis symmetricus (Bantam Sunfish) Genus Micropterus Micropterus cataractae (Shoal Bass) Extirpated? Micropterus coosae (Redeye Bass) Introduced Micropterus dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) Micropterus floridanus (Florida Largemouth Bass) Introduced Micropterus punctulatus (Spotted Bass) Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) Micropterus treculii (Guadalupe Bass) Micropterus warriorensis (Warrior Bass) Introduced Genus Pomoxis Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie)
Family Percidae (Perches and Darters)
Genus Ammocrypta Ammocrypta clara (Western Sand Darter) Ammocrypta vivax (Scaly Sand Darter) Genus Crystallaria Crystallaria asprella (Crystal Darter) Genus Etheostoma Etheostoma asprigene (Mud Darter) Etheostoma australe (Conchos Darter) Extirpated? Etheostoma chlorosomum (Bluntnose Darter) Etheostoma collettei (Chicken Ranch Darter) Threatened Etheostoma fonticola (Fountain Darter) Endangered Etheostoma gracile (Slough Darter) Etheostoma histrio (Harlequin Darter) Etheostoma lepidum (Greenthroat Darter) Etheostoma lugoi (Tufa Darter) Etheostoma moorei (Yellowcheek Darter) Endangered Etheostoma pottsii (Chihuahuan Darter) Extirpated? Etheostoma proeliare (Cypress Darter) Etheostoma radiosum (Orangebelly Darter) Etheostoma segrex (Salado Darter) Threatened Etheostoma spectabile (Orangethroat Darter) Etheostoma swaini (Gulf Darter) Etheostoma tecumsehi (Shawnee Darter) Extirpated? Etheostoma zonale (Banded Darter) Genus Perca Perca flavescens (Yellow Perch) Rare, possibly introduced Genus Percina Percina caprodes (Logperch) Percina carbonaria (Texas Logperch) Percina copelandi (Channel Darter) Percina macrolepida (Bigscale Logperch) Percina nasuta (Longnose Darter) Percina pantherina (Leopard Darter) Threatened Percina phoxocephala (Slenderhead Darter) Percina sciera (Dusky Darter) Percina shumardi (River Darter) Percina sipsi (Bankhead Darter) Extirpated? Percina vigil (Saddleback Darter)
Family Sciaenidae (Drums)
Genus Aplodinotus Aplodinotus grunniens (Freshwater Drum)
Family Elassomatidae (Pygmy Sunfishes)
Genus Elassoma Elassoma zonatum (Banded Pygmy Sunfish)
Family Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Genus Herichthys Herichthys cyanoguttatus (Rio Grande Cichlid) Native to lower Rio Grande, introduced elsewhere Herichthys deppii (Nautla Cichlid) Introduced Herichthys minckleyi (Minkley's Cichlid) Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico (near TX border) Herichthys tamasopoensis (Tamasopo Cichlid) Introduced Genus Oreochromis Oreochromis aureus (Blue Tilapia) Introduced Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique Tilapia) Introduced Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) Introduced Genus Parachromis Parachromis managuensis (Jaguar Guapote) Introduced Genus Thorichthys Thorichthys aureus (Blue-eyed Cichlid) Introduced Thorichthys meeki (Firemouth Cichlid) Introduced Genus Vieja Vieja fenestrata (Redspotted Cichlid) Introduced Vieja maculicauda (Black Belt Cichlid) Introduced
Native Saltwater species
Class Myxini (Hagfishes)
Order Myxiniformes
Family Myxinidae (Hagfishes)
Genus Eptatretus Eptatretus minor (Black Hagfish) Uncommon, deep water Eptatretus springeri (Gulf Hagfish) Genus Myxine Myxine mcmillanae (McMillan's Hagfish) Deep water
Class Petromyzonti (Lampreys)
Order Petromyzontiformes
Family Petromyzontidae (Northern Lampreys)
Genus Petromyzon Petromyzon marinus (Sea Lamprey) Anadromous, rare in Gulf
Class Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes)