WEED SHINER Notropis texanus

Cummins Creek @ Hwy 109, Colorado County. Photographed months after capture.


Cummins Creek @ Hwy 109, Colorado County.


Cummins Creek @ Hwy 109, Colorado County


Cummins Creek @ Hwy 109, Colorado County


Anal fin closeup


Pharyngeal arches showing tooth formula 2,4-4,2. Note some teeth were broken off.

The Weed Shiner occurs in small numbers in various locations in the Houston area. They prefer clear moving waters. The most productive spot for collecting them in my experience is at Cummins Creek at Route 109 in Colorado County. They congregated in moderate numbers in areas where riffles enter larger pools. I found them to be very attracted to traps baited with bread and chicken liver. Due to the small sizes of most of the Weed Shiners, the traps were easily escaped from; however, schools of the shiners persisted around the traps and were easily collected using a dip net. Even after severe disturbance of multiple passes with the dip net, the shiners would remain. I was able to catch about a hundred of them in all.

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© Dan Johnson 2006