Freshwater Fishes of Texas: A Field Guide

Series Editor’s Preface

Series Editor’s Preface As I sit at my computer and gaze into the headwaters of the San Marcos River through my office window, I feel a deep sense of privilege at being a part of the family here at Texas State University–San Marcos. Perhaps because the university is home to the magnificent springs that give birth to one of Texas’ most beautiful and diverse watercourses, it is also home to one of the finest aquatic biology programs of any university in all of North America. No better proof of that could exist than the collaboration of three academic generations to produce Freshwater Fishes of Texas: A Field Guide, written by Chad Thomas, his major professor Tim Bonner, and Bonner’s major professor, Bobby Whiteside. The timing of this book—the most comprehensive publication to date on the extraordinary diversity of our native fish species—could not be more critical , as Texas strives to finally come to grips with the in-stream flow needs of its rivers and streams to protect the richness of their aquatic biodiversity, including their fishes. The future of the freshwater fishes portrayed on these pages, some for the first time, will depend on our ability to identify and locate them, determine their needs, and ensure that sufficient water is left in our rivers, streams, and aquifers to sustain them. Thus, this third volume of River Books, a partnership between Texas A&M University Press and the River Systems Institute at Texas State University, is the most useful tool yet for fish identification. Even more important as we struggle for the continued existence of these fishes, Freshwater Fishes of Texas celebrates the great diversity of native fishes living in Texas inland waters. Unfortunately, that diversity has decreased in the last half century, and as many as five species of fish have become extinct in that time. Three more are extirpated from the state and fully twenty-five additional species are considered endangered, threatened, or of conservation concern. The primary cause of these losses has been inappropriate management of our water resources for uses other than the natural systems which depend on them. Thanks to the intellect, skill, and dedication of Thomas, Bonner, and Whiteside, we now have an additional tool to ensure that the rivers and streams of our children and theirs will be as rich in aquatic life as they are today. —Andrew Sansom ...