Disclaimer:

The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.




Notropis potteri
Notropis potteri
(Chub Shiner)
Fishes
Native Transplant

Copyright Info
Notropis potteri Hubbs and Bonham, 1951

Common name: Chub Shiner

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.govITIS logo

Identification: Hubbs et al. (1991); Page and Burr (1991).

Size: 11 cm.

Native Range: Brazos, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Colorado rivers, Texas; possibly includes the Red River drainage in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana (Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Page and Burr 1991; Gilbert, personal communication).

Native range data for this species provided in part by NatureServe NS logo
Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Nonindigenous Occurrences:

Table 1. States with nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Notropis potteri are found here.

StateFirst ObservedLast ObservedTotal HUCs with observations†HUCs with observations†
AR195119511McKinney-Posten Bayous
LA195119722Lower Mississippi-Baton Rouge; Lower Red-Lake Iatt
OK195119793Bois D'arc-Island; Lake Texoma; Middle North Canadian
TX195120013Lake Texoma; Lower Sulpher; Red-Washita

Table last updated 12/5/2024

† Populations may not be currently present.


Means of Introduction: The first record of this species in the Red River drainage is that of Hubbs and Bonham (1951) who reported it as existing in and about Lake Texoma, an artificial impoundment on the Texas-Oklahoma border. These researchers interpreted its occurrence in the Lake Texoma area to be the result of the establishment of escaped bait minnows. Hall (1956) also considered a bait bucket release as the possible mode of entry into the Red River drainage based on the fact that Notropis potteri was being used as a bait fish. If its occurrence in the Red River drainage near Lake Texoma is the result of an introduction, then records of this species in downstream areas of that drainage may represent subsequent spread of introduced populations and their offspring (Gilbert, personal communication). Yurgens (1954) reported N. potteri from Lake Travis (Colorado River drainage) in Texas and speculated that this species and several other recently discovered minnows were likely introduced as a bait release into the Colorado River drainage. He based his conclusion on recent captures and on the fact that bait dealers had been transporting Brazos River minnows in large numbers to fishing camps on Lake Travis near Austin.

Status: Established in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. In their treatment of Arkansas fishes, Robison and Buchanan (1988) noted that it was confined to the main channel of the Red River where it is locally abundant.

Impact of Introduction: Unknown. Suttkus and Clemmer (1968) believed that Notropis potteri is native to the Red River system. However, they speculated that, if man introduced this species to the Red, "it has swamped out and completely, or nearly so, replaced [Notropis] blennius in the shallow marginal areas of the lower Red River."

Remarks: There is uncertainty concerning the native versus nonindigenous distribution of this species. Hubbs and Bonham (1951) considered it introduced to the Red River drainage. In contrast, Suttkus and Clemmer (1968) believed that N. potteri gained access into the Red River system through natural means as the result of tributary captures or stream connections. Nevertheless, these researchers discussed the possibility of its introduction to the Red system. Cross et al. (1986) also listed it as native to the Red River drainage. However, Gilbert (personal communication) informed us that it is not certain if this species is native to, or introduced into the Red River drainage. If the Red River population is not the result of introduction, then it may have entered Red River by stream capture from the Brazos, or the species may have been native but overlooked in the Red River (Gilbert, personal communication). Hall (1956) also did not rule out the possibility of this species occurring naturally in the Red River drainage. Conner and Suttkus (1986) listed it as "native but possibly introduced" to the Colorado and Galveston Bay drainages of Texas. Other authors considered it native to the Colorado River drainage of Texas (e.g., Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Page and Burr 1991).

References: (click for full references)

Conner, J.V., and R.D. Suttkus. 1986. Zoogeography of freshwater fishes of the western Gulf slope of North America. Pages 413-456 in Hocutt, C.H., and E.O. Wiley, eds. The zoogeography of North American freshwater fishes. John Wiley and Sons. New York, NY.

Cross, F.B., R.L. Mayden, and J.D. Stewart. 1986. Fishes in the western Mississippi basin (Missouri, Arkansas and Red Rivers). Pages 363-412 in Hocutt, C.H., and E.O. Wiley, eds. The zoogeography of North American freshwater fishes. John Wiley and Sons. New York, NY.

Guillory, V. 1982. Fishes of the Lower Mississippi River Near St. Francisville, Louisiana. Proceedings of the Louisiana Academy of Sciences, Vol. XLV, 108-121.

Hall, G.E. 1956. Additions to the fish fauna of Oklahoma with a summary of introduced species. The Southwestern Naturalist 1(1):16-26.

Hubbs, C.L., and K. Bonham. 1951. New cyprinid fishes of the genus Notropis from Texas. Texas Journal of Science 5(2):91-110.

Hubbs, C., R.J. Edwards, and G.P. Garrett. 1991. An annotated checklist of freshwater fishes of Texas, with keys to identification of species. The 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. Atlas of North American Freshwater Fishes. Volume 1980. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh.

Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes - North America North of Mexico. Volume 42. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.

Red River Authority of Texas. 2001. Red and Canadian Basins Fish Inventory: Grayson County. Red River Authority of Texas.

Red River Authority of Texas. 2001. Red and Canadian Basins Fish Inventory: Cottle County. Red River Authority of Texas.

Red River Authority of Texas. 2001. Red and Canadian Basins Fish Inventory: Red River County. Red River Authority of Texas.

Robison, H.W. and T.M. Buchanan. 1988. Fishes of Arkansas. University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, AR.

Suttkus, R.D., and G.H. Clemmer. 1968. Notropis edwardraneyi, a new cyprinid fish from the Alabama and Tombigbee river systems and a discussion of related species. Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany 15(1):18-39.

Yurgens, K.C. 1954. Records of our four cyprinid fishes of the genera Notropis and Semotilus from Central Texas. Copeia 1954(2):155-156.

Other Resources:
FishBase Summary

Author: Leo Nico, and Pam Fuller

Revision Date: 9/16/2011

Peer Review Date: 9/16/2011

Citation Information:
Leo Nico, and Pam Fuller, 2024, Notropis potteri Hubbs and Bonham, 1951: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=606, Revision Date: 9/16/2011, Peer Review Date: 9/16/2011, Access Date: 12/5/2024

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.

Disclaimer:

The data represented on this site vary in accuracy, scale, completeness, extent of coverage and origin. It is the user's responsibility to use these data consistent with their intended purpose and within stated limitations. We highly recommend reviewing metadata files prior to interpreting these data.

Citation information: U.S. Geological Survey. [2024]. Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida. Accessed [12/5/2024].

Contact us if you are using data from this site for a publication to make sure the data are being used appropriately and for potential co-authorship if warranted.

For general information and questions about the database, contact Wesley Daniel. For problems and technical issues, contact Matthew Neilson.