Favoritos de leonardo2008

Threadfin Shad (Dorosoma petenense)

12 July 2020
Elm Fork Park
Ray Roberts State Park
Denton County, Texas

Came across several small fish by the side of the Elm Fork Trinity River, the remains of someone's fishing trip to the location. Bait fish? Probably. Are these native to the river? Were they caught with a small net to be used as bait? If caught in the river, why not return them once you are done with your fishing? Are these the small fry of American Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) or shiners of some kind? Etc.

First record of this species in Arlington County since 1977. Adult female found under a log in an upland area dominated by mountain laurel, similar to the habitat I’ve found this species in elsewhere in northern Virginia. This was in a park that has been extensively surveyed, yet there aren’t even any historical records of this species from this park. Absolutely amazing to find this species somewhere it has gone undetected for all this time.