Descriptions: Line 3
Weed Shiner ( Notropis texanus)
The weed shiner is a small minnow with a black lateral band.It also possesses a bluntly
rounded snout and dark pigmentation on the posterior portion of the anal fin.It occurs
in freshwater streams and rivers of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin and throughout the
Gulf of Mexico Basin.It primarily occurs in slow to moderately flowing portions of
small to medium sized streams.Weed shiners typically live for three years, occasionally
surviving for four years.
Smallmouth Buffalo ( Ictiobus bubalus)
The smallmouth buffalo is a member of the family Catostomidae, a group collectively
known as the suckers.Typically, suckers occupy the bottom portions of aquatic systems
using their fleshy lips to suction invertebrates from the bottom sediments.Smallmouth
buffalo can obtain weights of greater than 50 pounds and lengths up to 3 feet.The
sides and dorsal portion of the body tend to be black to dark gray in color; whereas,
the ventral portion is typically lighter in coloration.Smallmouth buffalo are most
similar in appearance to common carp and freshwater drum, species that also occur
in the basin.They are common in larger rivers in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin and
also occur in Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain.
Blacktail Redhorse ( Moxostoma poecilurum)
The blacktail redhorse is a common species that primarily occurs in rivers and streams
in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.It most often occurs in clear flowing water habitats
over sand and gravel substrates but can survive in lake or reservoir habitats.It lives
on the bottom, and like other suckers, it suction feeds invertebrates from the bottom
sediments. The blacktail redhorse is easily identified by the area of black pigment
on the lower portion of the caudal fin, as well as its thick fleshy lips that are
used for suction feeding.
Blue Catfish ( Ictalurus furcatus)
The blue catfish is an extremely common species in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin and
is particularly abundant in Lake Maurepas. Blue catfish primarily occupy freshwater
habitats, but are tolerant of saline environments.They occur in a wide-range of habitats
including large rivers and reservoirs, to backwater and estuarine habitats.They eat
an array of resources including other fish, as well as shrimp and crabs.Easily identified
by the presence of chin barbels, fin spines, and the lack of scales,blue catfish can
be distinguished from other catfish in the basin by a blueish coloration of the body
in adults, the lack of spots covering the body (as seen in channel catfish), and a
straight-edged anal fin.Record catfish of greater than 100 pounds have been caught
on hook and line, and there are unconfirmed reports of blue catfish weighing more
than 150 pounds.
Brindled Madtom ( Noturus miurus)
The brindled madtom is a diminutive catfish closely related to the blue catfish. It
is a member of the genus Noturus, a group that includes approximately 25 species.Most
madtom catfishes are small in size reaching maximum lengths of less than 10 inches.
Brindles madtoms possess multiple dorsal saddles, as well as a distinct black area
of pigment on their dorsal fins, which distinguish them from many other species of
catfish that occur in the basin.Madtoms, in general, are known for toxicity in their
dorsal and pectoral fin spines, which they use as anti-predator devices. Brindled
madtoms are common in sandy bottomed streams in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, most
often occurring in slowing flowing stream reaches.
Read descriptions of each fish in the poster.