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NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
Common Name: largespring gambusia
Identification: Hubbs et al. (1991); Page and Burr (1991).
Size: 4.4 cm.
Native Range: Springs in the San Marcos and Guadalupe River systems, central Texas
(Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Hubbs et al. 1991; Page and Burr 1991).
Nonindigenous Occurrences: The largespring gambusia has been introduced into several localities in Texas including Diamond Y Springs on Leon Creek (Pecos County); the Balmorhea springs complex including San Solomon, Giffin, East and West Sandia, and Phantom Cave springs, and irrigations ditches in that vicinity (Reeves County); Lazy Pond on Independence Creek, and nearby Chandler Springs (Terrel County); the headwaters of the Concho River at Head of the Run Ranch (formerly known as Anson Spring) south of Christoval (Tom Green County) (Hubbs et al. 1991; Hubbs, personal communication); and Comanche Springs (now desiccated) in Fort Stockton (Reeves County) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1982b).
Means of Introduction: Stocks from San Marcos, Texas, were introduced into Comanche Springs and Balmorhea area in 1937 and 1956, respectively (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1982b). Dates of other introductions are not known. Introductions into the springs at Balmorhea were separate introductions as the springs are not connected (Hubbs, personal communication). Hendrickson and Brooks (1991) indicated that G. geiseri was stocked into at least one site for conservation purposes, but the authors did not provide details or information on the locality.
Status: Locally established in Texas in the Balmorhea area springs. Extirpated at Comanche Springs which periodically becomes dry (Hubbs, personal communication).
Impact of Introduction: This species reportedly competes with another spring-dwelling species, the endangered Pecos gambusia G. nobilis and is considered a potential threat to that species' existence (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1982b).
Remarks: None.
Hendrickson, D. A., and J. E. Brooks. 1991. Transplanting short-lived fishes in North American deserts: review, assessment, and recommendations. Pages 283-298 in W. L. Minckley and J. E. Deacon, editors. Battle against extinction: native fish management in the American West. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ.
Hubbs, C., R. J. Edwards, and G. P. Garrett. 1991. An annotated checklist of freshwater fishes of Texas, with key to identification of species. Texas Journal of Science, Supplement 43(4):1-56.
Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980 et seq. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, NC.
Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Series, volume 42. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982b. Pecos gambusia (Gambusia nobilis) recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM. iii + 41 pp.
Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Leo Nico and Pam Fuller
Revision Date: 9/16/1999 Citation for this information:
Leo Nico and Pam Fuller. 2009. Gambusia geiseri. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=848> Revision Date: 9/16/1999
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