Freshwater Fish in Texas

1. Freshwater Fish in Texas Aquaculture

3. Largemouth Bass Color- Green with dark blotches that form a horizontal stripe along the middle of the fish. The upper jaw reaches far beyond the rear margin of the eye. Member of the sunfish family.

4. Smallmouth Bass Color- Green with dark vertical band instead of horizontal along the side. The upper jaw never extends beyond the eye. Member of the sunfish family.

5. Review Questions What are two differences between the largemouth bass and the smallmouth bass? The largemouth bass has horizontal stripes and the smallmouth bass has vertical stripes. The largemouth�s lower jaw reaches far beyond the rear margin of the eye.

6. White Bass Color- silvery shading from dark-gray or black on the back to white on the belly. Several incomplete lines or stripes run horizontally on each side of the body. Also known as a sand bass.

7. Striped Bass Color- Silvery shading to olive-green on the back and white on the belly. Has seven or eight uninterrupted horizontal stripes on each side of the body. Member of the sea bass family.

8. Channel Catfish Color- olive-brown to slate-blue on the back and sides, shading to silvery-white on the belly. Typically small black spots are present. Anal fin is rounded with 24-29 rays.

9. Blue Catfish Color- usually slate blue on the back, shading to white on the belly. Anal fin is straight with 30-36 rays.

10. Review Questions Out of the channel catfish and the blue catfish, which species is known for being heavier? The blue catfish

11. White Crappie Color- silvery-white on the belly to a silvery-green or even dark green on the back. There are several vertical bars on the side. Males develop dark coloration on the throat while spawning.

12. Black Crappie Color- silvery-green with irregular black blotches. Males do not develop any color during the spawning season.

13. Review Questions Of the two crappie, which species male changes color during the spawning season? The white crappie

14. Bluegill Color- The back and upper sides are usually dark olive green blending to copper, and reddish-orange or yellow on the belly. Color is more intense in breeding males. Also known as brim or perch.

15. Redear Sunfish Color- ranges from dark olive green above to almost white on the belly. Its most distinct characteristic is the red edge on the �ear� flap of the male and orange on the female.

16. Review Questions Whish sunfish species is known for having a red or orange edge on the �ear� flap? The redear sunfish

17. Common Carp Color- color varies from brassy green or yellow, to golden brown, or even silvery. The belly is usually yellowish-white. The common carp is a heavy-bodied minnow with barbells on either side of the upper jaw.

18. Grass Carp Color- silvery to olive in color, lacking the golden hue of common carp, and they have no barbells. The grass carp is one of the largest members of the minnow family.

19. Review Questions Which carp is known for having �barbells� on either side of the upper jaw? The common carp.

20. Alligator Gar Color- generally brown or olive above, and lighter underneath. Distinguished from other freshwater species by their long, slender, cylindrical bodies, and their long snouts.

21. Freshwater Drum Color- silvery in color and lack the distinctive tail fin spot of red drum. The drum is know for making �grunting� sounds.

22. Threadfin Shad Color- The upper surface is silver-blue and grades to nearly white on the sides and belly. The chin and floor of the mouth is speckled with black pigment.

23. Flathead Minnow Color- silvery-brownish in color. Most often known for being used as a bait-fish.

24. Guided Practice Everyone get a partner and between the two of you write down four fish and a characteristic that you learned about them in class today.