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Fish of Galveston Bay, Texas (221 Species)
Generated
with TSNL
Ecological Database Version 1.0. 1996,
2000. Austin: Texas System of Natural Laboratories, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Texas System of Natural
Laboratories, Inc.
Other Texas Localities: Colorado River Basin West Flower Garden Bank
Acanthuridae
(Surgeonfishes) Alopiidae
(Thresher Sharks) Anguillidae (Freshwater Eels) Antennariidae (Frogfishes) Aphredoderidae
(Pirate Perches) Ariidae
(Sea Catfishes) Atherinidae (Silversides) Balistidae (Leatherjackets) Batrachoididae
(Toadfishes) Belonidae
(Needlefishes) Blenniidae
(Combtooth Blennies) Bothidae (Lefteye Flounders) Bythitidae (Viviparous Brotulas) Carangidae (Jacks) Carcharhinidae
(Requiem Sharks) Catostomidae (Suckers) Centrarchidae (Sunfishes) Centropomidae
(Snooks) Clinidae
(Clinids) Clupeidae
(Herrings) Coryphaenidae
(Dolphins) Cyprinidae
(Carps and Minnows) Cyprinodontidae (Killifishes) Dasyatidae (Stingrays) Echeneidae (Remoras) Eleotridae (Sleepers) Elopidae (Tarpons) Engraulidae
(Anchovies) Ephippidae
(Spadefishes) Exocoetidae
(Flyingfishes, includes the Family Hemiramphidae (Halfbeaks)) Gadidae (Cods) Gerreidae (Mojarras) Gobiesocidae
(Clingfishes) Gobiidae
(Gobies) Haemulidae
(Grunts) Ictaluridae
(Bullhead Catfishes) Kyphosidae (Sea Chubs)
Lepisosteidae (Gars) Lobotidae (Tripletails) Lutjanidae (Snappers) Mugilidae (Mullets) Muraenidae (Morays) Ogcocephalidae
(Batfishes) Ophichthidae
(Snake Eels) Ophidiidae
(Cusk-eels) Ostraciidae
(Boxfishes) Percichthyidae (Temperate Basses) Poeciliidae
(Livebearers) Polynemidae
(Threadfins) Polyodontidae (Paddlefish) Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes) Pomatomidae
(Bluefishes) Pristidae
(Sawfishes) Rachycentridae (Cobias) Rajidae (Skates) Sciaenidae (Drums) Scombridae (Mackerels) Scorpaenidae
(Scorpionfishes) Serranidae (Sea Basses)
Soleidae (Soles) Sparidae (Porgies) Sphyrnidae (Hammerhead
Sharks) Stromateidae
(Butterfishes) Syngnathidae (Pipefishes) Synodontidae (Lizard Fishes) Tetraodontidae
(Puffers) Torpedinidae
(Electric Rays) Trichiuridae (Snake Mackerels) Triglidae (Searobins) Uranoscopidae
(Stargazers)
Elasmobranchiomorphi (Cartilaginous Fishes)
Lamniformes
7 Alopiidae
(Thresher Sharks)
14 Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788) thresher shark
10 Carcharhinidae
(Requiem Sharks)
28 Carcharhinus leucas (Valenciennes, 1841) bull shark
29 Carcharhinus limbatus (Valenciennes, 1841) blacktip shark
Carcharhinus limbatus (Valenciennes) includes C. natator Meek
& Hildebrand (Bigelow and Schroeder 1948, p. 351).
31 Carcharhinus
obscurus (Lesueur, 1817) dusky shark
Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur) includes Eulamia obscura (Lesueur)
(Bigelow and Schroeder 1948, p. 390; Hoese and Moore 1977, p. 111).
32 Carcharhinus
plumbeus (Nardo, 1827) sandbar shark
Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo) includes C. (=Eulamia) milberti (Valenciennes)
(Robins et al. 1980, p. 69).
33 Carcharhinus porosus (Ranzani, 1840)
smalltail shark
Carcharhinus porosus (Ranzani) includes C. cerdale (Gilbert)
(Bigelow and Schroeder 1948, p. 398).
36 Mustelus canis (Mitchill, 1815) smooth dogfish
The Genus Mustelus sometimes is placed in the Family Triakidae
(Hoese & Moore, 1977, p. 114).
40 Rhizoprionodon
terraenovae (Richardson, 1836) Atlantic sharpnose shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae (Richardson) includes Scoliodon
terraenovae (Richardson) (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 66).
11 Sphyrnidae
(Hammerhead Sharks)
41 Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834) scalloped hammerhead
42 Sphyrna mokarran (Rüppell, 1837)
great hammerhead
43 Sphyrna tiburo (Linnaeus, 1758) bonnethead
Rajiformes
14 Pristidae
(Sawfishes)
53 Pristis pectinata Latham, 1794
smalltooth sawfish
15 Torpedinidae
(Electric Rays)
55 Narcine brasiliensis (Olfers, 1831)
lesser electric ray
17 Rajidae
(Skates)
71 Raja texana Chandler, 1921
roundel skate
18 Dasyatidae
(Stingrays)
72 Dasyatis americana Hildebrand & Schroeder, 1928 southern stingray
74 Dasyatis sabina (Lesueur, 1824)
Atlantic stingray
75 Dasyatis say (Lesueur, 1817)
bluntnose stingray
77 Gymnura micrura (Schneider, 1801) smooth butterfly ray
19 Urolophidae (Round
Stingrays)
78 Urolophus
jamaicensis (Cuvier, 1816) yellow stingray
20 Myliobatidae (Eagle
Rays)
79 Aetobatis narinari (Euphrasen, 1790) spotted eagle ray
80 Myliobatis
freminvillei Lesueur, 1824 bullnose ray
81 Rhinoptera bonasus (Mitchill, 1815) cownose ray
Osteichthyes (Bony Fishes)
Acipenseriformes
23 Polyodontidae
(Paddlefish)
86 Polyodon spathula (Walbaum, 1792)
paddlefish
Lepisosteiformes
24 Lepisosteidae
(Gars)
87 Lepisosteus oculatus (Winchell, 1864) spotted gar
88 Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus, 1758) longnose gar
89 Lepisosteus
platostomus Rafinesque, 1820 shortnose gar
90 Lepisosteus spatula Lacepède, 1803
alligator gar
Elopiformes
27 Elopidae
(Tarpons)
93 Elops saurus Linnaeus, 1766
ladyfish
94 Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes, 1847 tarpon
Anguilliformes
31 Anguillidae
(Freshwater Eels)
100 Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur, 1817)
American eel
34 Muraenidae
(Morays)
108 Gymnothorax moringa (Cuvier, 1829)
spotted moray
37 Ophichthidae
(Snake Eels)
125 Echiophis punctifer (Kaup, 1860)
stippled spoon-nose eel
Echiophis punctifer (Kaup) includes E. mordax (Poey) (Robins et
al. 1991, p. 73) and Mystriophis mordax
(Poey) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 71).
128 Myrophis punctatus Lütken, 1851
speckled worm eel
129 Ophichthus gomesi (Castelnau, 1855) shrimp eel
Clupeiformes
41 Clupeidae
(Herrings)
155 Alosa chrysochloris (Rafinesque, 1820) skipjack herring
157 Brevoortia gunteri Hildebrand, 1948 finescale menhaden
158 Brevoortia patronus Goode, 1878
gulf menhaden
Brevoortia patronus Goode includes Gulf of Mexico menhaden
reported as B. tyrannus (Latrobe).
Powell and Phonlor (1986, pp. 991-992) report that B. patronus and B.
tyrannus are allopatric and occur in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean,
respectively.
159 Dorosoma cepedianum (Lesueur, 1818)
gizzard shad
160 Dorosoma petenense (Günther, 1867)
threadfin shad
163 Harengula jaguana Poey, 1865
scaled sardine
Harengula jaguana Poey includes H. pensacolae Goode & Bean
(Robins et al. 1980, p. 72).
165 Opisthonema oglinum (Lesueur, 1817)
Atlantic thread herring
166 Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 Spanish sardine
Sardinella aurita Valenciennes includes S. anchovia Valenciennes
(Robins et al. 1980, p. 72).
42 Engraulidae
(Anchovies)
168 Anchoa hepsetus (Linnaeus, 1758) striped anchovy
170 Anchoa mitchilli (Valenciennes, 1848) bay anchovy
171 Anchoa nasuta Hildebrand & Carvalho, 1948 longnose anchovy
Cypriniformes
43 Cyprinidae
(Carps and Minnows)
174 Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque, 1820) central stoneroller
Hubbs (1954, pp. 284, 289-290) considered the Galveston Bay and
Rio Grande localities for Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque) to be erroneous.
182 Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758
common carp
44 Catostomidae
(Suckers)
237 Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque, 1820) river carpsucker
242 Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque, 1818) smallmouth buffalo
Siluriformes
46 Ictaluridae
(Bullhead Catfishes)
251 Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) black bullhead
Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque) includes Ictalurus melas (Rafinesque)
(Robins et al. 1991, p. 78).
252 Ameiurus natalis (Lesueur, 1819)
yellow bullhead
Ameiurus natalis (Leseur) includes Ictalurus natalis (Leseur)
(Robins et al. 1991, p. 78). Ameiurus
nebulosus (Leseur) includes Ictalurus nebulosus (Leseur) (Robins et al. 1991,
p. 78).
253 Ameiurus nebulosus (Lesueur, 1819)
brown bullhead
Hubbs (1954, p. 285) states that Fowler's (1945) record of
Ameiurus nebulosus (Leseur) from the Nueces River is based on A. natalis
(Leseur). A. nebulosus (Leseur)
includes Ictalurus nebulosus (Leseur) (Robins et al. 1991, p. 78).
254 Ictalurus furcatus (Lesueur, 1840)
blue catfish
256 Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818) channel catfish
259 Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque, 1818) flathead catfish
47 Ariidae
(Sea Catfishes)
262 Arius felis (Linnaeus, 1766) hardhead catfish
Arius felis (Linnaeus) includes Ariopsis felis (Linnaeus) (Robins
et al. 1980, pp. 75-76) and Galeichthys felis (Linnaeus) (Bailey et al. 1970,
p. 71).
263 Bagre marinus (Mitchill, 1815) gafftopsail catfish
Aulopiformes
60 Synodontidae
(Lizard Fishes)
334 Synodus foetens (Linnaeus, 1766) inshore lizardfish
Percopsiformes
66 Aphredoderidae
(Pirate Perches)
375 Aphredoderus sayanus (Gilliams, 1824) pirate perch
Gadiformes
69 Gadidae
(Cods)
388 Urophycis floridana (Bean & Dresel, 1884) southern hake
71 Ophidiidae
(Cusk Eels)
432 Ophidion marginatum (DeKay, 1842)
striped cusk-eel
Ophidion marginatum (DeKay) includes Rissola marginata (DeKay)
(Robins et al. 1980, p. 77).
433 Ophidion welshi (Nichols & Breder, 1922) crested cusk-eel
73 Bythitidae
(Viviparous Brotulas)
442 Gunterichthys
longipenis Dawson, 1966 gold brotula
Batrachoidiformes
74 Batrachoididae
(Toadfishes)
444 Opsanus beta (Goode & Bean, 1879) gulf toadfish
Opsanus beta (Goode & Bean) includes Gulf of Mexico specimens
identified as O. tau (Linnaeus) (Hoese and Moore 1977, p. 142).
445 Opsanus pardus (Goode & Bean, 1879) leopard toadfish
446 Porichthys
plectrodon Jordan & Gilbert,
1882 Atlantic midshipman
Porichthys plectrodon Jordan & Gilbert includes North American
specimens previously assigned to P. porosissimus (Valenciennes) (Robins et al.
1980, p. 76).
Lophiiformes
76 Antennariidae
(Frogfishes)
453 Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758) sargassumfish
78 Ogcocephalidae
(Batfishes)
457 Ogcocephalus
corniger Bradbury, 1980 longnose batfish
Ogcocephalus corniger Bradbury includes the North American batfish
formerly known as O. vespertilio (Linnaeus) (Robins et al. 1991, pp.
81-82. Bradbury (1980, p. 276) gives
the range of O. corniger as the southeastern U.S. coast and eastern Gulf.
462 Ogcocephalus
radiatus (Mitchill, 1818) polka-dot batfish
Robins et al. (1991, p. 82) use O. radiatus (Mitchill) for this
species, while Bradbury (1980, pp. 258-260) uses O. cubifrons
(Richardson). Bradbury (1980, p. 264)
gives the range of O. radiatus (Mitchill) as the eastern Gulf and the Campeche
Banks.
Gobiesociformes
81 Gobiesocidae
(Clingfishes)
467 Gobiesox strumosus Cope, 1870
skilletfish
Atheriniformes
82 Exocoetidae
(Flyingfishes)
477 Hirundichthys
rondeleti (Valenciennes,
1847) blackwing flyingfish
Hirundichthys rondeleti (Valenciennes) includes Prognichthys
rondeleti (Valenciennes) and Danichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes) (Bailey et
al. 1970, p. 72; Parin 1986, p. 617; Parin and Gibbs 1990, p. 589).
478 Hyporhamphus meeki Banford & Collette, 1993
Banford and Collette (1993) report many western Gulf of Mexico
specimens of Hyporhamphus meeki Banford & Collette identified as H.
unifasciatus (Ranzani) which may be extralimital.
479 Hyporhamphus unifasciatus (Ranzani, 1842)
silverstripe halfbeak
Banford and Collette (1993) report many western Gulf of Mexico
specimens of Hyporhamphus meeki Banford & Collette identified as H.
unifasciatus (Ranzani) which may be extralimital.
83 Belonidae
(Needlefishes)
485 Strongylura marina (Walbaum, 1792)
Atlantic needlefish
Strongylura marina (Walbaum) probably includes Texas needlefish
identified as S. timucu (Walbaum) (Hoese 1958, p. 325) and S. notata (Poey)
(Hoese and Moore 1977, p. 152).
84 Cyprinodontidae (Killifishes)
489 Adinia xenica (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) diamond killifish
Adinia xenica (Jordan & Gilbert) includes A. multifasciata
Girard (Hoese and Moore 1977, p. 155).
495 Cyprinodon
variegatus Lacepède, 1803 sheepshead minnow
496 Fundulus chrysotus (Günther, 1866)
golden topminnow
498 Fundulus grandis Baird & Girard, 1853 gulf killifish
499 Fundulus jenkinsi (Evermann, 1892) saltmarsh topminnow
503 Fundulus pulvereus (Evermann, 1892) bayou killifish
504 Fundulus similis (Baird & Girard, 1853) longnose killifish
506 Lucania parva (Baird & Girard, 1855) rainwater killifish
85 Poeciliidae
(Livebearers)
508 Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard, 1853) western mosquitofish
519 Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821)
sailfin molly
Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur) includes Mollienesia latipinna
Lesueur (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 72).
86 Atherinidae
(Silversides)
525 Membras martinica (Valenciennes, 1835) rough silverside
Membras martinica (Valenciennes) includes Gulf of Mexico specimens
identified as M. vagrans (Goode & Bean) (Hoese and Moore 1977, p. 157).
526 Menidia beryllina (Cope, 1866)
inland silverside
Menidia beryllina (Cope) includes M. audens Hay (Robins et al.
1980, p. 79).
527 Menidia clarkhubbsi Echelle & Mosier, 1982 Texas silverside
The tidewater silverside is also known as Amazone silverside
(Hubbs et al. 1991, p. 36).
528 Menidia menidia (Linnaeus, 1766) Atlantic silverside
Lee et al. (1980, p. 560) report Florida Bay as the westernmost
record for Menidia menidia (Linnaeus).
529 Menidia peninsulae (Goode & Bean, 1879) Tidewater silverside
Menidia peninsulae (Goode & Bean) is a brackish water species
formerly included in M. beryllina (Cope) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 79).
Gasterosteiformes
103 Syngnathidae
(Pipefishes)
562 Hippocampus erectus Perry, 1810
lined seahorse
564 Hippocampus zosterae Jordan & Gilbert, 1882 dwarf seahorse
567 Syngnathus floridae (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) dusky pipefish
568 Syngnathus
louisianae Günther, 1870 chain pipefish
570 Syngnathus scovelli (Evermann & Kendall, 1896) gulf pipefish
Scorpaeniformes
105 Scorpaenidae
(Scorpionfishes)
577 Scorpaena calcarata Goode & Bean, 1882 smoothhead scorpionfish
Scorpaena calcarata Goode & Bean includes S. atlantica Jordan,
Evermann, & Clark (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 83).
106 Triglidae
(Searobins)
583 Bellator militaris (Goode & Bean, 1896) horned searobin
595 Prionotus rubio Jordan, 1886
blackwing searobin
Prionotus rubio Jordan includes P. pectoralis Nichols & Breder
(Bailey et al. 1970, p. 57) and P. salmonicolor Fowler (Robins et al. 1991, p.
85).
596 Prionotus scitulus Jordan & Gilbert, 1882 leopard searobin
598 Prionotus tribulus Cuvier, 1829
bighead searobin
Perciformes
107 Centropomidae
(Snooks)
600 Centropomus
undecimalis (Bloch, 1792) common snook
108 Percichthyidae (Temperate Basses)
604 Morone chrysops (Rafinesque, 1820) white bass
The Genus Morone includes the Genus Roccus (Bailey et al. 1970, p.
74).
605 Morone
mississippiensis Jordan & Eigenmann,
1887 yellow bass
The Genus Morone includes the Genus Roccus (Bailey et al. 1970, p.
74).
606 Morone saxatilis (Walbaum, 1792)
striped bass
The Genus Morone includes the Genus Roccus (Bailey et al. 1970, p.
74).
109 Serranidae
(Sea Basses)
611 Centropristis
philadelphica (Linnaeus, 1758) rock sea bass
614 Diplectrum formosum (Linnaeus, 1766) sand perch
616 Epinephelus
cruentatus (Lacepède, 1802) graysby
Epinephelus cruentatus (Lacepède) includes Petrometopon cruentatum
(Lacepède) (Robins et al. 1980, p. 81).
622 Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822) jewfish
624 Epinephelus nigritis (Holbrook, 1855) Warsaw grouper
626 Epinephelus striatus (Bloch, 1792)
Nassau grouper
627 Gonioplectrus
hispanus (Cuvier, 1828) Spanish flag
110 Centrarchidae
(Sunfishes)
655 Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, 1819 green sunfish
656 Lepomis gulosus (Cuvier, 1829)
warmouth
Lepomis gulosus (Cuvier) includes Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuvier)
(Bailey et al. 1970, p. 75).
658 Lepomis macrochirus (Rafinesque, 1819) bluegill
661 Lepomis microlophus (Günther, 1859)
redear sunfish
666 Micropterus
salmoides (Lacepède, 1802) largemouth bass
668 Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, 1818 white crappie
669 Pomoxis
nigromaculatus (Lesueur, 1829) black crappie
115 Pomatomidae
(Bluefishes)
714 Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766) bluefish
116 Rachycentridae (Cobias)
715 Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766) cobia
117 Echeneidae
(Remoras)
716 Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758
sharksucker
118 Carangidae
(Jacks)
721 Alectis ciliaris (Bloch, 1787)
African pompano
Alectis ciliaris (Bloch) includes A. crinitus (Mitchill) (Robins
et al. 1980, p. 83; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1990, p. 730).
722 Caranx bartholomaei Cuvier, 1833
yellow jack
Caranx bartholomaei Cuvier includes Carangoides bartholomaei
(Cuvier) (Robins et al. 1991, p. 91).
723 Caranx crysos (Mitchill, 1815) blue runner
Caranx crysos (Mitchill) includes C. fusus Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire
(Smith-Vaniz 1986, p. 823; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1990, p. 732).
724 Caranx hippos (Linnaeus, 1766) crevalle jack
725 Caranx latus Agassiz, 1831
horse-eye jack
728 Chloroscombrus
chrysurus (Linnaeus, 1766) Atlantic bumper
731 Hemicaranx
amblyrhynchus (Cuvier, 1833) bluntnose jack
733 Oligoplites saurus (Schneider, 1801) leatherjack
735 Selene setapinnis (Mitchill, 1815) Atlantic moonfish
Selene setapinnis (Mitchill) includes Vomer setapinnis (Mitchill)
(Robins et al. 1980, p. 83).
736 Selene vomer (Linnaeus, 1758) lookdown
739 Seriola rivoliana Valenciennes, 1833 almaco jack
Seriola rivoliana Valenciennes includes S. falcata Cuvier, S.
colburni Evermann & Clark, and S. songora Smith (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 76;
Smith-Vaniz 1986, p. 839; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1990, pp. 748-749).
741 Trachinotus
carolinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Florida pompano
742 Trachinotus falcatus (Linnaeus, 1758) permit
119 Coryphaenidae
(Dolphins)
747 Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758
dolphin
121 Lutjanidae
(Snappers)
754 Lutjanus campechanus (Poey, 1860)
red snapper
Lutjanus campechanus (Poey) includes L. blackfordi (Goode &
Bean) (Bailey et al. 1970, p. 76).
756 Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus, 1758) gray snapper
759