Print Coastal Wetlands Species Fact Sheet Set - The State of Water

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEWhooping CraneGrus americanaTPWD PHOTOWhooping cranes are one of the rarest bird species in NorthAmerica. Although they breed in Canada during the summermonths, whooping cranes migrate to Texas’ coastal plains nearRockport for the winter months.

Whooping CraneGrus americanaAPPEARANCEHeight: 5 feet (1.5 m)Wingspan: 7.5 feet (2.3 m)Distinguishing Characteristics• White with rust-colored patches on top and back of head• Black feathers on both sides of the head• Yellow eyes• Primary wing feathers are black but are visible only in flight.• Long, black legs and billsLIFE HISTORYRange: Limited in Texas to the migratory flywayand coastal plain around Aransas.Diet: Crabs, clams, crayfish, snails, minnows,frogs, larval insects and leeches; occasionallyvoles, lemmings and shrews;sometimes acorns and small fruitSexual maturity: Between three and five yearsMating season: Early springNest: Made of bulrushes about 4 feet (1.2 m)wide with a flat-topped central moundup to 5 inches (12 cm) above the waterEggs: TwoIncubation: 29 to 31 daysYoung: Generally, one chick survives. It canleave the nest while quite young, but isstill protected and fed by its parents.Chicks are rust-colored when theyhatch; at about four months, chicks’feathers begin turning white. By the endof their first migration, they are brownand white, and as they enter their firstspring, their plumage is white withblack wing tips.Life span: Up to 24 years in the wildHABITATWhooping cranes winter on the Aransas National WildlifeRefuge’s 22,500 acres of salt flats and marshes. The area’scoastal prairie rolls gently here and is dotted with swales andponds. They summer and nest in poorly drained wetlands inCanada’s Northwest Territories at Wood Buffalo National Park.BEHAVIORWhooping cranes begin their fall migration south to Texas inmid-September and begin the spring migration north to Canadain late March or early April. They mate for life, but will accept anew mate if one dies. The mated pair shares brooding duties;either the male or the female is always on the nest. The hatchlingswill stay with their parents throughout their first winter,and separate when the spring migration begins. The sub-adultsform groups and travel together.NOW YOU KNOW!• Whooping cranes live in “families” with two adult birds, amale and a female, and one or two of their young. Whoopingcranes migrate more than 2,400 miles a year.• As many as 1,400 whooping cranes migrated across NorthAmerica in the mid-1800s. By the late 1930s, the Aransaspopulation was down to just 18 birds. Because of wellcoordinatedefforts to protect habitat and the birds themselves,the population is slowly increasing. In 1993, thepopulation stood at 112. In the spring of 2002, it is estimatedthat there were 173 whoopers—a small, but importantincrease.• Today, three populations exist: one in the Kissimmee Prairieof Florida, the only migratory population at Aransas NationalWildlife Refuge, and a very small captive-bred population inWisconsin.WHOOPING CRANES ANDPEOPLEWhooping cranes are protected in Canada, the Unites Statesand Mexico. Because some of their habitat is federally protected,the land is managed to preserve the animals. The greatestthreats to whooping cranes are man-made: power lines, illegalhunting, and habitat loss. Because the Gulf InternationalWaterway goes through their habitat area, the cranes aresusceptible to chemical spills and other petroleum-relatedcontamination. Public awareness and support are critical towhooping cranes’ survival as a species.PWD LF D0200-849A (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFECommon RaccoonProcyon lotorTPWD PHOTORaccoons are curious, unique, and intelligent creatures. Thesecharacteristics help them survive in the wild, but can also makefor annoying neighbors. Though they prefer woodlands, they canlive practically anywhere and have adapted well to humanhabitats.

Common RaccoonProcyon lotorAPPEARANCELength: 33 to 45 in. (84 to104.5 cm)Weight: 7 to 20 lb. (3 to 9 kg)Distinguishing Characteristics• Gray, with dark black markings around their eyes, and blackbands on their tail• Belly and muzzle are lighter colored while the feet are darkergray.• Coat is medium length and coarse, and the tail is very bushy.• Dexterous hands. Hands and feet have five fingers and toes.• Stocky with short legs• Small rounded earsLIFE HISTORYRange:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Mating season:Gestation and birth:Young:Life span:North AmericaFruits and nuts, insects and aquaticinvertebrates, fish, small rodents, frogs,bird eggs, carrion and human garbageOwls, coyotes, bobcats and humansMale: 2 years; female: 1 yearMid to late summer60 to 74 days; four cubsBaby raccoons’ ears and eyes openabout 18-24 days after birth. They canwalk around by the time they are four tosix weeks old. Although they areweaned by three months, they remainwith their mothers for another year.10 to 15 yearsHABITATRaccoons prefer brushy or wooded areas near streams, lakes orswamps, although they can live close to developed areas ifsufficient food, water and cover are provided.BEHAVIORRaccoons are almost exclusively nocturnal. During the day theysleep in dens in the trees. During cold winter periods, they maysleep for an extended period, but do not hibernate. They areprimarily solitary, and will only gather with other raccoonsduring breeding season. Raccoons are polygamous, they havea number of partners. Males do not stay to help raise the young.NOW YOU KNOW!• Raccoons have excellent night vision and an acute sense ofhearing.• They are very agile climbers and strong swimmers.• They use their nimble fingers to feel stream bottoms for food,to climb trees and to open containers and garbage cans. Theycan find their way into a house to get food.• Home ranges are about 3-4 square km, about half as smallfor females.COMMON RACCOONS ANDPEOPLEThe name “raccoon” came from an Algonquian Indian wordarakun, which means “he scratches with his hands.” Duringthe 1700s, American colonists dropped the “a” in arakun, andthe name became raccoon.Wild raccoons accustomed to being fed by well-intentionedpeople will generally loose their natural fear of humans andseek to move closer to their food source–your house. Onceraccoons take up residence in an attic or outbuildings they canbecome very destructive and difficult to remove. Malnutrition,diseases like rabies, and predation by humans, coyotes andbobcats take their toll, but raccoon populations are not indecline in most areas of Texas.PWD LF D0200-849B (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEPiping PloverCharadrius melodusTPWD PHOTOThe piping plover is a “winter Texan,” living on the beaches andtidal mudflats of the Texas coastline and migrating north in thespring. This beautiful little bird finds it hard to survive habitatloss and is listed as a threatened species.

Texas Diamondback TerrapinMalaclemys terrapin littoralisAPPEARANCEHABITATShell length: Females: 6 to 9 inches (15 to 22 cm);Males: 4 to 5.5 inches (10 to 14 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Dark carapace (upper shell)• Pale plasteron (lower shell)• Diamond-shaped scutes (plates that form the carapace)• Strongly webbed feet and unusually large back feetLIFE HISTORYRange: From Louisiana to Corpus Christi BayDiet: Crabs, shrimp, bivalves, fish and insectsPredators: Humans, raccoons, skunks and crowsSexual maturity: Males at three years, females at sixyearsMating: SpringNesting: After mating in the water, females comeashore and dig a tear-shaped nest in thesand above the high-tide line.Eggs: Four to 18 eggsIncubation: 60 to 100 days depending on local conditions,especially temperatureYoung: If temperatures are warmer, her nest willproduce more females; if temperaturesare cooler, then the nest will producemore males. If the eggs do not hatchbefore winter sets in, the hatchlings willspend the winter in the nest and willemerge when the weather warms.Life span: Up to 40 yearsDiamondback terrapins prefer brackish or salt water. They arethe only turtle found in estuaries, tidal creeks, and saltwatermarshes where the salinity comes close to that of the ocean.BEHAVIORTexas diamondback terrapins are solitary except when breeding.An individual female breeds every four years or so. Occasionally,adult diamondbacks may dig into the mud to hibernate over thecold winter months. During the day terrapins spend most oftheir time in the water or basking in the sun. At night terrapinsbury themselves in mud.NOW YOU KNOW!• Diamondbacks can adjust their water needs depending onhow salty the water is. When their systems become too salty,diamondbacks secrete salt from their tear ducts to helpregulate their salt levels.• Texas diamondbacks are one of seven subspecies ofMalaclemys terrapin recognized by scientists.TEXAS DIAMONDBACKTERRAPINS AND PEOPLESome believe that Prohibition helped save terrapins. Turtle soupwas made with wine during the 1920s. When Prohibition lawsmade possessing wine illegal, turtle soup fell out of favor andthousands of trapped turtles were released into the ocean.Today, most terrapins are killed by speeding cars or becometrapped in baited blue crab traps and drown.PWD LF D0200-849D (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEAtlantic CroakerMicropogonias undulatusTPWD PHOTOThe Atlantic croaker is one of the most abundant fishes in NorthAmerican coastal waters. It is an important commercial fish aswell as an important sport fish.

Atlantic CroakerMicropogonias undulatusAPPEARANCELength: 12 inches (30 cm)Weight: 1/2 to 2 pounds (226 g to 0.9 kg)Distinguishing Characteristics• Three to five pairs of small barbels or “whiskers” on theirchins help them feel for food on the sea floor.• Lateral line extends to tip of caudal (tail) fin.• Inferior mouth (located to the bottom of the head facing theground)• Brown vertical stripes on its sides• Adults–silver with a pinkish cast• Young–silvery and iridescent• Older fish are brassy in color with vertical brown streaksformed by spots that are on their scales.LIFE HISTORYRange:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Spawning season:Eggs:Young:Life span:Atlantic coast from Massachusettssouthward and throughout the Gulf ofMexicoShrimp, crabs and detritus (dead anddecomposing plant and animal matter)Striped bass, shark, spotted seatrout,other croakers and humansAlong the Gulf Coast, at about one yearold. This varies in other areas.Fall, with peak between August andOctoberBetween 100,000 and 2 million eggs,each about 0.35 mm in diameterAfter hatching, the larvae (immaturestage) drift toward land. They areabundant on soft bottoms, such as mud,where there are large amounts ofdetritus for them to feed on.Up to eight yearsBEHAVIORAtlantic croaker “croak” by vibrating their swim bladders withspecial muscles as part of their spawning ritual. A swim bladderis a pocket full of air inside the fish that helps keep it afloat andfacing upright. This behavior attracts females.NOW YOU KNOW!• Atlantic croaker are also called hardheads, King Billies andgrumblers.• Croaker that live in the northern part of their range maturelater and live longer than those in the southern part of theirrange.• Because of predation, more than 95% of the Atlantic croakerpopulation dies every year.• Atlantic croaker should not be eaten raw because they maypass trematodes (parasites) to humans.• The croaker is closely related to spotted seatrout and reddrum.ATLANTIC CROAKER ANDPEOPLEThe Atlantic croaker is a very important commercial fish.Millions of pounds are caught and sold every year in the UnitedStates and exported to other countries. The annual catch ofcroaker has declined in the past few years, probably due to overfishing. The best times for fishing for Atlantic croaker are fromsummer into the fall. They are easily caught on bait (deadshrimp) when fishing on the bottom. Small Atlantic croaker areused as a bait fish to catch other fish, especially spottedseatrout (Cynoscion nebulosis) and crabs.HABITATAtlantic croaker prefer estuaries and bays throughthe spring and summer, then travel offshore in thefall to breed.PWD LF D0200-849E (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEKemp’s Ridley Sea TurtleLepidochelys kempiiTPWD PHOTOFor more than 150 million years, sea turtles have roamed theearth. Although many sea turtle species are in danger, the Kemp’sRidley sea turtle is the most endangered species worldwide.

Kemp’s Ridley Sea TurtleLepidochelys kempiiAPPEARANCELength: 27 to 32 inches (68 to 82 cm)Weight: 75 to 100 pounds (33 to 45 kg)Distinguishing Characteristics• Dark gray to gray-green carapace (upper shell)• Cream to tan plasteron (lower shell)• Streamlined shells• Appendages shaped like flippersLIFE HISTORYRange:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Mating:Nesting:Eggs:Incubation:Young:Life span:HABITATWarm, shallow shore waters throughoutthe Gulf of Mexico and along theAtlantic OceanCrabs, clams, jellyfish, shrimp, sea starsand fishHumans (hunting, boat propellers, nets,and refuse), followed by natural predationby shore birds, sharks and other seaanimalsAt about 10-15 years for femalesLittle is known about the males.Females may nest two or three timesper breeding season.The females come ashore and dig adeep nest in the beach sand.100 soft, round white eggs about thesize of ping pong balls.45 to 60 days with approximately75 percent of the eggs hatching.About 125,000 hatchlings leave nestson North American shores, but only onepercent of those will survive to sexualmaturity. As hatchlings, Ridleys weighabout 0.5 ounces (14 g) with a shell thesize of a half-dollar.Up to 50 yearsKemp’s Ridleys prefer open ocean and gulf waters with thefemales only coming ashore to lay eggs in beach sand. Youngturtles float on large mats of sargassum (a type of brownalgae) in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.BEHAVIORThe male Kemp’s Ridley spends its entire life in the water whilethe female only comes ashore to nest, sometimes joining largegroups of nesting females called arribazones.A female willonly lay eggs during the day. She will come back to the samebeach to nest year after year. Some scientists believe that babysea turtles may remember, or “imprint” on, the particular smell,chemical make-up, or magnetic location of the beach wherethey hatched. Others point out that sea turtles have magnetite,an iron ore, in their brains that they may use to navigate alongthe Earth’s magnetic fields.NOW YOU KNOW!• If the water grows cold, these sea turtles can adjust theirmetabolic rate and can remain underwater for hours.• Turtles can go two to three months without food.• Sea turtle “tears” are their way of ridding their body of saltwaterthrough special glands.• Eggs placed in a warm incubator tend to hatch as female turtles.Eggs kept at cooler temperatures hatch as males.• The Kemp’s Ridley is the smallest of all the sea turtles.• It is also known as the tortuga lora in Mexico, which means“parrot turtle” in reference to the beak-like shape of its head.KEMP’S RIDLEY SEATURTLES AND PEOPLEThe Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle was placed on the EndangeredSpecies List in 1970. Over the centuries, people have harvestedthe eggs and killed the turtles for their meat and leather-likeskin. Between the 1940s and 1960s, the population crashed aspeople harvested truckloads of eggs and sold them in smalltowns in Texas and Mexico. More recent threats include suffocationin shrimpers’ large nets and ingesting floating trash thatthey mistake for food. Governments of the Mexican states ofTamaulipas, Colima and Jalisco were the very first to becomeinvolved in the protection of sea turtle eggs. The nesting beachat Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico is the primary nesting sitefor these turtles. It is the only known major nesting beach forthis species in the world. Thanks to the work of a large team ofscientists, a secondary nesting population has been establishedon Padre Island National Seashore. To continue the success ofthis secondary site, citizens are asked to leave the animalsalone, but report any sightings to a park ranger or local gamewarden.PWD LF D0200-849F (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFESpotted SeatroutCynoscion nebulosusTPWD PHOTOThe spotted seatrout, commonly called speckled trout, is one ofthe most popular sport fish along the Texas coast. It occurs in thewestern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, ranging from Massachusettsto the Yucatan peninsula.

Spotted SeatroutCynoscion nebulosusAPPEARANCELength: Males: average 19 inches (48 cm)Females: 25 inches (63 cm)Weight: 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.3 kg)Distinguishing Characteristics• Dark gray or green back with distinct round spots on back,fins and tail• Silvery-white below• Black margin along the edge of tail• Soft dorsal (back) fin has no scales• One or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip ofupper jawLIFE HISTORYRange:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Spawning season:Eggs:Incubation:Life span:HABITATBays along the Atlantic Coast andGulf of MexicoSmall trout feed primarily on smallcrustaceans. Medium-size trout feed onshrimp and small fish. Large fish feedalmost exclusively on other fish.Alligator gar, striped bass, Atlanticcroaker, tarpon and barracudaAt one to two yearsFebruary through October100,000 to a million16 to 20 hours after fertilizationUp to ten yearsSpotted seatrout prefer shallower bays and estuaries withoyster beds and seagrass beds that attract prey species.BEHAVIORA female spotted seatrout may spawn several times during theseason. Younger females may release 100,000 eggs and older,larger females may release a million eggs. Recent studies indicatethat spotted seatrout spawn between dusk and dawn andusually within coastal bays, estuaries and lagoons. They prefershallow grassy areas where eggs and larvae have some coverfrom predators. Spotted seatrout swim near seagrass beds ofshallow bays and estuaries during spring and summer, lookingfor prey. As water temperatures decline during fall, they moveinto deeper bay waters and the Gulf of Mexico. As water temperatureswarm in the spring, the fish return to the shallows ofthe primary and secondary bays.NOW YOU KNOW!• Some trout caught may have worms embedded in the fleshalong the backbone. These “spaghetti” worms are larvalstages of a tapeworm that can only reach maturity in sharks.The worms cannot survive in man even if the seatrout iseaten raw. The worms can easily be removed when the fish iscleaned to make the meat more appealing.• The fish is a member of the croaker family (Sciaenidae) and isa first cousin to the Atlantic croaker, red drum, black drum,and sand seatrout.SPOTTED SEATROUT ANDPEOPLEIts abundance, willingness to hit natural and artificial baits, andfine eating qualities make the species extremely popular withanglers. It has been commercially harvested in all the statesbordering the Gulf of Mexico. However, a decline in harvest ofspotted seatrout in recent years caused Alabama and Texas toclose commercial fishing of the species. The decline in theseatrout catch is linked to destruction of seagrass beds andover-fishing.In Texas, the record spotted seatrout caughtwas 33.75 inches (85.7 cm) and13 pounds 9 ounces (about 6 kg).PWD LF D0200-849G (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFESheepshead MinnowCyprinodon variegatusPHOTO BY CARL FRANKLINSheepshead minnows are an important link in the coastal foodchain. They eat plant materials including algae, and are theneaten by larger fish, turtles and wading birds.

Sheepshead MinnowCyprinodon variegatusAPPEARANCELength: Generally about 1.8 inches (4.6 cm); largest was3.7 inches (9.3 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Silver, tubby bodies• One dorsal (back) and one anal fin (fin closest to tail)• No lateral lineHABITATSheepshead minnows are euryhaline (they can be found infreshwater as well as saltwater). They prefer quiet, shallowwaters and have been found in saltwater bays and estuaries, aswell as coastal inland areas such as creeks, canals and ditches.BEHAVIORLIFE HISTORYRange: Along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf ofMexico and south along the SouthAmerican coastlineDiet: Plant material, algae, detritus (decomposingdead/animal matter), mosquitoesand smaller fishPredators: Red drum, spotted seatrout, Atlanticcroaker, turtles and some wading birdsSexual maturity: At three monthsSpawning season: In colder water, spawning occursFebruary through October; in warmwaters, spawning can last throughoutthe year.Nests: Males construct nest pits in bay bottomsto attract females.Eggs: Females can spawn several times duringthe spawning season at 1-7 day intervals,depositing between 100 to 300eggs per spawning period.Incubation: From 4 to 12 days, depending ontemperatureYoung: Larvae have a total length of 0.16 inches(4 mm) when hatched and are yellowishin color. Hatching typically occursduring spring and summer.Life span: UnknownWhen mating, males turn bright blue, fiercely defending theirnests. Sheepshead minnows dig into sediment to hide frompredators or seek refuge from very warm or cold water.Sometimes, they hide in seagrass or algae. They travel inschools, especially when they have been frightened.NOW YOU KNOW!• This fish can live in water so shallow that it may be the onlyspecies there.• They can survive water that has been deprived of oxygen bygulping air at the water’s surface.• Sheepshead minnows are also referred to as variegatedminnow, sheepshead killifish, sheepshead pupfish, broadkillifish and chubby.• In one laboratory study, a single female sheepshead minnowproduced 1,028 eggs over a 28-day period.• The eggs are adhesive and stick to plants, the bay bottomand to each other.SHEEPSHEAD MINNOWSAND PEOPLESheepshead minnows are used by humans in a variety of ways:some fisherman use them as bait, collectors keep them in saltwateraquariums as pets and the Environmental ProtectionAgency studies sheepshead minnows to determine pollutionlevels in certain bodies of water.PWD LF D0200-849H (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEReddish EgretEgretta rufescensTPWD PHOTOThe reddish egret, a beautiful wading bird, is a permanentresident of the Texas coast. Although recognized as one species,reddish egrets may be either white (white phase) or gray with areddish or rusty colored head and neck (dark phase). It iscurrently listed in Texas as a threatened species.

Reddish EgretEgretta rufescensAPPEARANCEHeight: 27 to 32 inches (68 to 82 cm)Wingspan: 46 to 49 inches (116 to 124 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Two distinctly different color phases:Dark phase• Gray with reddish head and neck feathers• Bluish legs• Pink bill with a dark tipWhite phase• White feathers• Bluish legs• Pink bill with dark tip• Long shaggy plumes on their heads and necks duringbreeding seasonLIFE HISTORYHABITATReddish egrets are most often found in salt and brackish waterwetlands.BEHAVIORBoth parents build the nest, and sticks are continuously addedto the nest during incubation. Reddish egrets sometimes nestalongside other birds such as herons, egrets, cormorants andspoonbills. The reddish egret is crepuscular (it is most active atdawn and dusk). When feeding, reddish egrets will spread theirwings to create shade and reduce glare so that they can seetheir prey more easily in the water. When chasing fish, they alsorun in circles. Reddish egrets use their long, spear-like bills tostab their prey. After feeding, reddish egrets regurgitate all theinedible parts of their prey, such as bones, much like owls do.Parents feed their young by regurgitating into the chicks’mouths.Range:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Mating season:Nests:Eggs:Incubation:Life span:Along the Gulf Coast of Texas and someparts of Louisiana; also found inSouthern Florida. Rare along the GulfCoast of Mexico, West Indies and BajaCalifornia.Small fish, frogs, tadpoles and crustaceansRaccoons, coyotes and great-tailedgrackles destroy eggs and eat young.At three to four yearsEarly March through late JulyMade of sticks either on the ground orin a bush or tree up to 20 feet (6 m)high. In Texas, nests are built mostly onthe ground near a bush or prickly pearcactus or on an oyster shell beach. Thenest may be up to 10 inches (25.4 cm)thick with a diameter of 12 to 26 inches(30 to 66 cm).Three to four; smooth and pale bluegreenin color with no markingsUnknown, but estimated to be25-26 daysUp to 12 yearsNOW YOU KNOW!• Two dark phase birds can have white phase chicks, but twowhite phase birds can never have dark phase chicks. When adark phase bird and a white phase bird mate, their chicks arealmost always dark phase. The white phase of the reddishegret was once thought to be a completely different species.• In Texas, only 10 to 20 percent of the reddish egret populationis white phase. In the 1950s, just four percent of thewhole United States’ population was white phase.REDDISH EGRETS ANDPEOPLEUntil the late 1800s, reddish egrets were hunted for their feathers,which were used to decorate ladies’ hats and clothing. Theentire United States population of reddish egrets was nearlyexterminated by hunters. The reddish egret completely disappearedfrom Florida. In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act waspassed, finally protecting reddish egrets and other birds fromplumage hunters. Although their populations are still recovering,it is a slow process. There are only 1,500 to 2,000 nesting pairsof reddish egrets in the United States—and most of these are inTexas. Intrusion of habitat by recreationists, pesticide runoff andland development all harm the reddish egret’s habitat.PWD LF D0200-849I (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFERoseate SpoonbillAjaia ajajaTPWD PHOTORoseate spoonbills’ wide, spoon-shaped beaks are supersensitive.The birds use them to stir water and find food insaltwater and freshwater marshes along the Gulf Coast.

Roseate SpoonbillAjaia ajajaAPPEARANCEBEHAVIORHeight: 32 inches (81 cm)Wingspan: 50 inches (127 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Pink body and legs• White neck and breast• Pale-green bald head• Spoon-shaped bill• Bright red shoulder patchLIFE HISTORYRange: Entire Gulf of Mexico coastline,south to Central America, South Americaand West IndiesDiet: Primarily small fish and crustaceansPredators: Raccoons and coyotes eat eggs andyoung.Sexual maturity: At approximately 16 weeksMating season: March through June in TexasNests: Built in thick vegetation above water;are well-built and deeply cuppedEggs: Two to five; brown-speckled whiteIncubation: About 24 daysYoung: In about eight weeks, the young roseatespoonbills are ready to fly.Life span: Ten yearsHABITATFrom March through October, roseate spoonbills prefer the bays,marshes and estuaries along the Gulf Coast. Occasionally theywill travel inland through the eastern third of Texas. In winter,most roseate spoonbills migrate to Central and South America.Unlike most birds, roseate spoonbills are silent and often solitarywhen they feed. They swish their spoon-shaped bills backand forth in the water to find small invertebrates, fish and crustaceans.During breeding season, the male uses gifts of nestingmaterial to attract the female. Once mated, the pair remainsmonogamous. Both male and female take turns sitting on theeggs and feeding the young.NOW YOU KNOW!• Spoonbills eat shrimp, shrimp eat algae, and the algae maketheir own red and yellow pigments, called carotenoids.Some scientists believe that the pink coloration that roseatespoonbills acquire as they mature is due to their diet ofcarotenoid-rich organisms like shrimp. The more they eat, thepinker they get.• Flamingos are close relatives of the roseate spoonbill. Theyboth have pink feathers, but the flamingos are much largerwith a longer neck.ROSEATE SPOONBILLS ANDPEOPLELike many other bird species with beautiful plumage, roseatespoonbills were nearly hunted to extinction during the 1800s.Their striking pink feathers were popular on women’s hats andhunters from all over the United States competed for spoonbillplumes. In the early 1900s, roseate spoonbills began to recolonizeareas along the Gulf Coast and slowly increase in number.Today, threats to roseate spoonbill populations come as a resultof habitat loss.PWD LF D0200-849J (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFELightning WhelkBusycon perversum pulleyiTPWD PHOTOThe lightning whelk’s shell is a treasure that can often be foundalong the coast from North Carolina to Texas. Shown with thisshell is a strand of egg capsules from which tiny lightning whelkjuveniles have emerged.

Lightning WhelkBusycon perversum pulleyiAPPEARANCEShell length: 2.5 to 16 inches (6 to 40 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Off-white to tan or gray shell with narrow, brown “lightning”streaks from the top of the shell to the bottom; the shell iswhite on the inside.• The animal inside the shell is dark brown to black.• Counterclockwise shell spiral (lightning whelks are usuallycalled “left handed”)BEHAVIORThe carnivorous habits of the whelks begin as hatchlings. Thewhelks that hatch feed on the eggs that did not hatch. Whenfeeding, an adult whelk will try to pry open a bivalve by insertingthe edge of its shell inside the bivalve and using it like acrowbar. If it cannot pry the bivalve’s shell open this way, it willgrind the shell with its own shell until it creates a hole largeenough to insert its radula (toothed tongue). The lightningwhelk can “smell” its prey with special sensory organs inside itsbody and will almost completely bury itself searching for otherfood.LIFE HISTORYRange: Along the Gulf CoastDiet: Bivalves (invertebrates with two shells),especially oysters, clams, and scallopsPredators: Gulls, crabs, and other whelksMating season: Late October and early JanuarySpawning season: March and AprilEggs: The female lays eggs in long strings ofcapsules 11 to 33 inches (27 to 83 cm)long. Each strand has up to 145 capsulesand each capsule may contain20 to 100 eggs. Only about 8 to 13 ofthe eggs in each capsule hatch.Young: Juveniles will begin hatching in May andemerge as tiny lightning whelks.Life span: UnknownHABITATLightning whelks may be found on the bottom of shallow baysin sand or mud near shoalgrass or turtlegrass meadows.NOW YOU KNOW!• Like snails, the lightning whelk is in the class Gastropodawhich means “stomach footed.” Gastropods are univalves(have only one shell).• Hermit crabs often make homes of unoccupied lightningwhelk shells.• Lightning whelks leave behind a trail when crawling. It isoften easy to track them.• The shell grows very quickly when the whelk is young aslong as food is abundant. As it gets older, the shell growsmore slowly. The color of the shell depends greatly on light,temperature and age. Older whelks have pale shells.LIGHTNING WHELKS ANDPEOPLENative Americans harvested whelks for religious ceremoniesand practical tools. Many tribes believed that the “left handed”spiral made the shells sacred objects, but whelks were alsoeaten and their shells used as scrapers, gouges and even cupsand bowls. Some larger shells can hold up to one quart ofliquid. It is believed that sailors even used the egg cases assponges for bathing. The lightning whelk shell is recognized asthe official Texas State Shell.PWD LF D0200-849K (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEGulf Salt Marsh SnakeNerodia clarkiiPHOTO BY PAUL FREEDIn Texas, the gulf salt marsh snake lives where few other watersnakes venture—they thrive in brackish waters. Because coastalwetlands are continuously being drained, filled, developed andcontaminated, gulf salt marsh snakes run a serious risk ofbecoming threatened or endangered due to habitat loss.

Gulf Salt Marsh SnakeNerodia clarkiiAPPEARANCEBEHAVIORLength: 15 to 30 inches (38 to 76 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Two longitudinal tan or yellow stripes on each side of thebody make up the dorsal (top) pattern of the snake.• Reddish-brown or grayish-black ventral (bottom) color withone to three rows of large pale spots along the center ofthe belly• Flat headedLIFE HISTORYRange: Along the Gulf CoastDiet: Small fish, crabs, shrimp and otherinvertebratesPredators: Egrets, herons and crabsSexual maturity: At three yearsMating season: Early springGestation: Live birth. Born during July and August.Young: The babies are 7 to 9 inches (17 to22 cm) long at birth.Life Span: Up to 20 yearsHABITATJust as the name indicates, Gulf salt marsh snakes prefer brackishand saltwater estuaries, salt marshes and tidal mud flats.As a way to avoid predators, salt marsh snakes are nocturnal(active at night) and often hide in shoreline debris and in crabburrows in the mud or sand.NOW YOU KNOW!The gulf salt marsh snake does not have salt glands to help riditself of the salt it eats so it must be very careful not to drinksalt water. It gets moisture from rainfall and from the animalsit eats.GULF SALT MARSH SNAKESAND PEOPLEBecause they are difficult to find, we know relatively little aboutgulf salt marsh snakes. When they are found, people often confusethe non-venomous gulf salt marsh snake with venomousspecies such as the cottonmouth. The general shape of a poisonoussnake’s head is triangular while a non-poisonous snake’shead is slender and almost flush with the rest of its body. If youlook at a cottonmouth from above, you can see the eyes. Youcan’t see the eyes of a water snake from above. They are on thesides of the snake’s head. Water snakes’ eyes have a roundpupil; the cottonmouth (and other pit vipers) have pupils similarto cats (a vertical slit).PWD LF D0200-849L (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEBlue CrabCallinectes sapidusTPWD PHOTOThe blue crab is the most common edible crab along the eastcoast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. Blue crabs, likeshrimp, crayfish and lobsters, are members of the crustaceanfamily.

Blue CrabCallinectes sapidusAPPEARANCEWidth: Carapace (or shell) is about 7 inches (17.8 cm) wideand 4 inches (10.2 cm) long.Weight: 1 to 2 pounds (0.45 to 0.9 kg)Life span:HABITATPerhaps only one or two crabs survive tobecome adults.Up to three yearsDistinguishing Characteristics• Hard-shelled back is dark brownish-green and is drawn outon each side into a large spine.• Abdomen and lower legs are white.• Claws are various shades of blue (hence their name), but theclaw tips of the female are red.LIFE HISTORYRange:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Mating:Eggs:Spawning season:Incubation:Young:Estuaries along the east coasts of Northand South America. Has also been seenin the coastal waters of France, Hollandand Denmark.Clams, oysters, and mussels, as well asalmost any vegetable or animal matter,preferably freshly dead or freshly caughtfood—sometimes even young crabsRed drum, Atlantic croaker, herons, seaturtles and humansAt 12 to 18 monthsFemales mate only once, immediatelyafter they have molted (shed theirshell) for the last time. Males mateoften. When the females are in theirsoft-shell stage (immediately after molting),the males transfer their sperm tothem for storage, and then protect themuntil their new shells harden. Thefemales will spawn two to nine monthsafter mating.Up to two million eggsFrom December to October with a peakin spring and summer. When females areready to spawn, they fertilize the eggswith the stored sperm and place them onthe tiny hairs of the appendages on theirabdomen. While carrying eggs like this,she is called a "sponge" or "berry" crab.14 daysThe megalops (or larvae), pass througheight stages in about two monthsbefore they begin to look like crabs.Blue crabs are bottom-dwellers in every type of habitat from thesaltiest water of the gulf to the almost fresh water of the backbays and estuaries, from the low tide line to waters 120 feet(36 m) deep.BEHAVIORAfter mating, the females travel to the saltier portions of thelower bays and gulf, while males remain in the estuaries. Bluecrabs burrow in soft mud or hide in sea grasses to lie in wait forprey or avoid predators. Crabs are quite aggressive—perhapsinspiring us to refer to an aggressive or unpleasant person as a“crab!”NOW YOU KNOW!• Blue crabs suffer in low oxygen conditions. Pollutants fromfarms, sewage treatment plants, chemicals, homes and carscan have serious consequences for blue crabs.• Parasites are common on crabs. Barnacles, worms and leechesattach themselves to the outer shell; small animals calledisopods live in the gills or on the abdomen; and smallworms live in the muscles. However, most of these parasitesdo not affect the life of the crab.• Crabs can regenerate (regrow) pinchers or legs lost whilefighting or protecting themselves. The lost limb will bereplaced after two or more molts.• The blue crab’s scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, is fromLatin and Greek: calli, beautiful; nectes, swimmer; andsapidus, savory—beautiful, savory swimmer.• Like insects, blue crabs have stalked compound eyes and cansee in almost every direction at once.BLUE CRABS AND PEOPLEMany people love to eat blue crab. The crabs are sold live toprocessors who boil, pick, and can the meat, to fish houses, andto supermarkets for sale over the counter. From 1977 to 1989,the yearly catch of blue crab ranged between 6.9 and 11.7 millionpounds, and was valued between $1,928,000 and$4,474,000.PWD LF D0200-849M (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEEastern OysterCrassostrea virginicaTPWD PHOTOThe eastern oyster, also referred to as the American oyster or theGulf Coast oyster, is one of the most sought-after coastalmollusks. Not only do people enjoy eating them, live oyster reefshelp clean the water and provide habitat for all sorts of otheranimals such as sponges, small crabs, and fishes.

Eastern OysterCrassostrea virginicaAPPEARANCEValve (shell) length: up to 8 inches (20 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Two shells (called “valves” hence the name bivalve) attachtogether at one end by a natural hinge and by a single largemuscle.• Pale white to gray shell• Shell is rough with ridges or bumps.BEHAVIOROysters are protandric—in the first year, they spawn as males,but as they grow larger and develop more energy reserves, theyspawn as females. Oysters are also filter-feeders. They feed byusing their gills to filter tiny food particles out of the water.Oysters have been found attached to bricks, boats, cans, tires,bottles, crabs, and turtles, but they prefer to attach to otheroysters. When a large number of oysters join together, it’s calledan “oyster reef.”LIFE HISTORYRange:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Spawning season:Eggs:Incubation:Larvae:Life span:HABITATOcean waters from Canada to MexicoPlankton and algaeAmerican oystercatcher, sea anemone,sea stars, sea nettles, some parasitesand humansAbout seven weeks after hatchingLate spring to early fall during warmweatherFemales may release more than 100 millioneggs during a season. Only aboutone percent of the fertilized eggs reachthe next stage of maturity.Within hours of mixing with sperm, thefertilized eggs develop a shell and beginto move on their own.Oyster larvae, each about the size of agrain of pepper, use tiny, probing feet tofind a suitable place to attach. Once settled,the foot excretes a cement-likeglue. The oyster glues itself in place andspends the rest of its life there.Varies, depending on freshwater inflowand predatorsEastern oysters are abundant in shallow saltwater bays, lagoonsand estuaries, in water 8 to 25 feet (2.5 to 7.5 m) deep andbetween 28 and 90 degrees F.NOW YOU KNOW!• Some oyster reefs are so large they are included on topographicmaps. (In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,several oyster reefs were so big they posed navigationalhazards to ships.)• A purple stain or muscle “scar” is left on the inside of theshell when the adductor muscle (the muscle that holds thebivalve together) is removed.• If the water gets too cold, below 40 degrees F, oysters closetheir shells and don’t open them again until the waterwarms up.EASTERN OYSTERS ANDPEOPLEOysters are one of the few animals eaten entirely raw, but theyare more than just a popular seafood: oyster shells are used incalcium supplements and in industrial processes.Because they are filter-feeders, oysters may ingest pollutantsout of the water. The Texas Department of Health determineswhich areas are safe to collect oysters. If areas are too polluted,oysters become contaminated and unsafe to eat. The TexasDepartment of Health will then close the area(s) to oyster harvesting.Collecting or selling oysters taken from these closedareas is illegal.PWD LF D0200-849N (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEFiddler CrabUca rapaxTPWD PHOTOFiddler crabs are the most common crab in a salt marsh and theyplay an important role in the salt marsh community. They eatdetritus (dead or decomposing plant and animal matter) and arethemselves food for a number of wetland animals.

Fiddler CrabUca rapaxAPPEARANCECarapace (shell) length: 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Dark during the day; a lighter color at night• Males have one large claw and one small claw.• Females’ claws are the same size.• Move sideways rather than forward or backwardenter his burrow. They mate inside the burrow and she emergestwo weeks later to release her sponge (fertilized eggs) intothe water.The burrows provide privacy for mating, sleeping and “hibernating”during the winter months. Fiddlers also burrow into thesand to escape from predators and abandon their temporaryburrow once the danger has passed. During high tide, fiddlercrabs pack sand into the entrance to their burrows and waituntil the tides goes down again.LIFE HISTORYRange: Gulf of Mexico to South AmericaDiet: Algae, bacteria, fungus scraped off ofsand particles and detritus (dead anddecaying plant and animal matter)Predators: Herons, egrets and raccoonsSexual maturity: At one to two yearsSpawning season: June through AugustIncubation: 14 daysLife span: Up to 1.5 yearsHABITATFiddler crabs are most often found in soft sand or mud near oraround the edges of shallow salt marshes.BEHAVIORFiddlers have a remarkable mating ritual: male fiddlers lineup beside the tidy burrows they have dug and move theirchelipeds (large claws) back and forth in a fiddling motion toattract females. Females, fresh from foraging, will walk pastand if a male catches a female’s eye, he will tap the groundwith his claw. If she is still receptive to his advances, she willNOW YOU KNOW!• Fiddler crabs reabsorb their shells rather than shed theirshells in order to grow a larger, better-fitting one.• Fiddlers use their claws to pick up sediment and scrape foodparticles into their mouths. The males can only use their singlesmall claw for feeding so they have to work twice a hardas the females do to get the same nutrients.• If one claw is lost, the fiddler crab will soon regenerate(regrow) a new one. In the meantime, the claw that is leftwill grow bigger.• These crabs are seen year-round in Texas salt marshes andare always moving sideways.• Sand or mud pellets “sprinkled” around the opening of acrab burrow means that a crab currently lives there.FIDDLER CRABS AND PEOPLEIn Spanish, the fiddler crab is called a cangrejo violinista,which literally translates to “violinist crab.” Fiddler crabs helppreserve our important coastal wetland ecosystems. By burrowingdeep into the mud of the marshes, the crabs create a mazeof tunnels that aerate (add oxygen to) the marsh grasses andunderwater seagrass meadows.PWD LF D0200-849O (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEAmerican OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusTPWD PHOTOThe American oystercatcher is an easily recognized shorebirdthat makes its home on the beach or near salt marshes andmudflats. The bird’s long orange bill is shaped like a knife. It usesits beak to pry open oysters and other bivalves for food, hencethe name “oystercatcher.”

American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusAPPEARANCEHeight: 17 to 21 inches (43 to 53 cm)Wingspan: 35 inches (89 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Orange bill 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) long• Thick pink legs• Bright yellow eyes with red rings around them• Black or dark brown backs with black heads and necks• White bellies and breasts and white stripes on their wingsLIFE HISTORYRange:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Mating season:Nests:Eggs:Young:Life span:HABITATAlong the Atlantic and Gulf coasts ofNorth America and south along thePacific Coast of South AmericaOysters, clams, barnacles, starfish, crabs,jellyfish, limpets, chitons, marine wormsand other invertebratesLarge raptors (birds of prey); raccoonsand skunks prey on the eggsAt one yearFebruary through JulyShallow depressions scraped into higherparts of sandy or rocky beaches abovethe high tide line.Two to four buff-colored eggs with lightand dark brown spots and other marksabout 2 by 1.5 inches (5 by 3.8 cm)The chicks can run within 24 hours ofhatching, but it takes up to 60 days fortheir beaks to become strong enough topry open their own bivalves. The youngbirds may remain with their parents forup to six months.Ten years or longerAmerican oystercatchers prefer rocky, sandy or shell beaches,salt marshes and mudflats.BEHAVIOROystercatchers are very protective of their young. Both parentsincubate the eggs. To disguise the speckled eggs, the adults addbroken shells or pebbles to the nests. To distract predators, adultbirds will fake an injury to attract attention away from the nestor pretend to brood where there is no nest. Oystercatcherssometimes give such extensive care to their young that theadults starve.NOW YOU KNOW!• When an American oystercatcher pries an oyster shell open,it quickly clips the bivalve’s adductor muscle (the musclethat holds its shell shut). The bivalve cannot protect itself andis eaten by its predator.• Oystercatchers that feed mainly on animals in the soft sandor mud have a more pointed bill than oystercatchers thatfeed on rocky shorelines.• The black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani), theAmerican oystercatcher’s cousin, is endemic to (or foundonly on) North America’s Pacific Coast.• Because they live and feed on the seashore, salt builds up inoystercatchers’ blood from the salty water. Special glandshelp the birds drain excess salt out of their system.AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERSAND PEOPLEThe genus name Haematopus is Greek for “blood foot,” andrefers to the oystercatcher’s pink legs. Palliatus means“cloaked” in Latin, and refers to the black “cloak” of featherson its head.During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Americanoystercatchers were hunted for food and their plumage. Whenthe species became protected under law in 1918, it was nearextinction along the Atlantic Coast. Its numbers are nowincreasing throughout its range. However, as cities and townsgrow along beaches in North America, oystercatchers havefewer available nesting areas.PWD LF D0200-849P (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEAtlantic Bay ScallopArgopecten irradians amplicostatusTPWD PHOTOAs filter-feeders, bay scallops play an important role in keepingthe waters clear and clean. When caught, they can be cooked andeaten, provided they were collected in areas considered “noncontaminated”by the Texas Department of Health.

Atlantic Bay ScallopArgopecten irradians amplicostatusAPPEARANCEBEHAVIORValve length: 2.5 to 2.8 inches (60 to 70 mm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Nearly identical fan-shaped shells with 17 to 20 ribs oneach shell• Shell color variesAs juveniles, scallops will attach themselves to a surface suspendedoff the bottom with special adhesive threads calledbyssal threads. As adults, scallops move from one place toanother by quickly “clapping” their valves together and ejectingwater, creating a type of “jet propulsion.” Sometimes scallopsmigrate in mass.LIFE HISTORYNOW YOU KNOW!Range:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Spawning season:Eggs:Young:Life span:Galveston, Texas down to the LagunaMadre along the Texas Gulf CoastAbsorbs and ingests floating detritus(dead and decomposing plant andanimal matter)Starfish, wading birds, seagulls, pinfish,lightning whelks, cow-nosed rays, crabsand humansAt one yearBetween August and October100,000 to 1 million eggsWithin 29 days the juvenile stage isreached. Within 35 days the scallopresembles a small adult.Less than two years• Scallops are hermaphrodites (can be both male andfemale). A single scallop will generally release sperm (as amale) before it releases eggs (as a female). This reduces thechance of it fertilizing itself.• Natural occurrences such as red tide (a harmful algal bloom)can kill millions of adult and larval bay scallops.• Scallops grow at a faster rate during the warmer monthswhen food is readily available.• Scallops have a series of blue eyes around the mantle (thetissue that secretes the shell). Although they are weak, theeyes help scallops identify predators.ATLANTIC BAY SCALLOPSAND PEOPLEHABITATAtlantic bay scallops prefer bays where salinity is high and seagrassmeadows are common, especially habitat covered with eelgrass (Zostera marina) and/or shoal grass (Halodulewrightii). They are most commonly found in calm waters0.3 to 0.6 meters at low tide.The destruction of seagrass areas as a result of dredging anddevelopment has resulted in the decreased abundance of thebay scallop. This tasty seafood is collected by hand, with dipnets, by raking and dredging. Scallops can only be harvestedfrom areas approved by the Texas Department of Health—Seafood Safety. Because they are filter-feeders, Atlantic bayscallops are studied to test the effects of petroleum spills incoastal habitats.PWD LF D0200-849Q (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFERed DrumSciaenops ocellatusTPWD PHOTOThe red drum is a popular game fish in coastal waters fromMassachusetts to Mexico. It is easily recognized by the black spoton its tail.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEPinfishLagodon rhomboidesTPWD PHOTOThe jewel tones and abundance of the pinfish make it a welcomeand familiar sight in the coastal waters of Texas.

PinfishLagodon rhomboidesAPPEARANCELength: Adults around 4.5 inches (11.43 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Back olive, sides bluish with yellow stripes and five to sixfaint dusky bars• Silvery sheen overall• Dark spot on shoulder• Fins yellowHABITATAdult pinfish prefer protected waters of the Gulf between30 and 50 feet deep, while juveniles are common over seagrassbeds or other structure such as rocky bottoms, jetties, pilings,and in mangrove areas where there is cover from predators.They prefer water that has a higher salinity.BEHAVIORLIFE HISTORYRange: In coastal waters from Cape Cod,Massachusetts south through the Gulfof Mexico and the north coast of Cubato the Yucatan peninsulaDiet: Juveniles eat shrimp, fish eggs, insectlarvae, polychaete worms andamphipods. Adults eat all of those plusplant material.Predators: Alligator gar, longnose gar, ladyfish,spotted seatrout, red drum, southernflounder and bottlenose dolphinSexual maturity: About one year when the fish hasreached 80 to 100 mm in lengthSpawning season: Takes place in the fall and winter witheggs that are broadcast in the water bythe female, then fertilized by the maleEggs: Number of eggs varies; approximately7,000 to 90,000 that hatch after48 hoursYoung: Not protected by adults; larval stageuntil they reach about 12 mm in length,then juvenile stage until they reach80 mmLife span: Because they are eaten by many otherspecies, the life span is generally short.Pinfish rarely school (swim in groups) and are most active indaytime, although some nocturnal activity has been observed.Extremely high and low temperatures cause pinfish to migratefrom shallow areas to deeper areas. Adults and juvenilesmigrate out of the shallower waters in the fall to their spawninggrounds in the deeper waters of the Gulf.NOW YOU KNOW!• Pinfish are so abundant and eat so many amphipods,that they are an important limiting factor to amphipodpopulations, keeping them in balance within the seagrasscommunity.• Pinfish are also called bream, pin perch, sand perch andbutterfish.PINFISH AND PEOPLEAlthough they have a good flavor, pinfish are rarely eatenbecause they are relatively small fish. Still, pinfish are a favoriteamong young anglers because they are fun to catch. Also,pinfish are a main prey item of larger fish that are prized byanglers, providing an important link in the food chain.Scientists have also used pinfish extensively to test the toxicityof hydrocarbons to determine the effects oil spills might haveon marine life.PWD LF D0200-849S (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFELong-billed CurlewNumenius americanusTPWD PHOTONot surprisingly, the long-billed curlew has a long, downwardcurving bill. Look for it on the seashore where it spends itswinters or in fields and prairies where it breeds. Habitat loss hasforced it to exist almost exclusively in the western half of NorthAmerica.

Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanusAPPEARANCEHeight: 18 to 26 inches (45 to 66 cm)Wingspan: 36 to 40 inches (91 to 101 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Speckled brown and buff backs and upper wings, buffcoloredbellies and breasts and cinnamon-coloredunderwings• Legs and feet are bluish-gray.• Long, thin, down-curved bill is dark and fades to a flesh toneat the base; it can be more than 8 inches (20 cm) long andhas a droplet-shaped tip.• Webbed front toesLIFE HISTORYHABITATLong-billed curlews prefer prairies and pastures with short grassduring breeding season. After breeding, they seek seashores,lakes, rivers, mudflats and salt marshes.BEHAVIORCurlews frequently build nests near cow patties or bushes tohelp hide the nests from predators. The females incubate theeggs during the day and the males incubate at night. Thefemales will abandon the nest and their mate two to threeweeks after the eggs hatch. Predators destroy 10 to 16 percentof long-billed curlew nests. If a nest is only partially destroyed,the parents will still abandon the remaining eggs.Range:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Mating season:Nests:Eggs:Incubation:Young:Life span:Southwestern Canada to the westernhalf of the United States. They winter inthe southern United States and south toGuatemala, but can be found along theTexas Gulf Coast during the summer aswell.When inland, mostly insects and worms.In coastal areas, they probe in the mudwith their long bills for shellfish, crabsand fish. They will also eat other nestingbirds.Hawks, badgers, coyotes, weasels andsnakesAt three to four yearsMid-April through SeptemberBuilt on the ground in flat, open areaswith clumps of grass. The nests are simpledepressions in the ground, usuallylined with grass.Four greenish or buff-colored, pearshapedeggs with brown spots27 to 30 daysThe chicks can fly within 45 days ofhatching.Up to ten yearsNOW YOU KNOW!• Long-billed curlews are also called “sicklebills,” “bigcurlews” or “hen curlews.”• The genus name, Numenius, is Greek and refers to itscrescent-shaped bill.• Long-billed curlews can swim if they need to—their fronttoes are webbed.• They can fly as fast as 50 miles (80 km) per hour.LONG-BILLED CURLEWSAND PEOPLEThe long-billed curlew was once common along the Great Plainsand in the eastern United States. In the late 1800s and early1900s, these and other shorebirds were hunted in large numbersas game; long-billed curlew was a menu item in many restaurants.By the time they were finally protected by the MigratoryBird Treaty Act, much of their crucial breeding habitat had beendestroyed for agriculture. Populations in the eastern UnitedStates never recovered, but curlews remain fairly common in thewestern United States. Although pesticides may have also contributedto declining populations of curlews, the main reason forthe species’ continued decline is habitat loss. The long-billedcurlew is listed on the Audubon Society’s Blue List of decreasingbird populations. It is also listed as endangered, threatened, orspecies of special concern in several states.PWD LF D0200-849T (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFENorthern HarrierCircus cyaneusPHOTO BY VIREOThe northern harrier, also known in North America as the marshhawk, is a bird of prey that is common in Texas during the wintermonths. It preys on small rodents, reptiles, and amphibians. It isthe only species of harrier found in North America.

Northern HarrierCircus cyaneusAPPEARANCEHeight: Males: 16 to 18 inches (40 to 45 cm)Females: 20 inches (50 cm)Wingspan: 3 feet (0.9 m); females: 4 feet (1.2 m)Distinguishing Characteristics• Males: bluish-gray backs, white undersides and blackwing-tips• Females: brown backs and cream-colored bellies and breastswith dark brown streaks• White rumps, yellow eyes, yellow legs and a yellow cere,theleathery patch of skin where the nostrils are located• Like other hawk-like birds, they have a sharp, down-turnedbeak and long sharp talons.• When gliding, harriers sometimes hold their wings in adihedral or “V” shape.LIFE HISTORYRange:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Mating season:Nesting:Eggs:Incubation:Young:Life span:From central Canada south to Texas.They migrate southward in the winter,and may be found throughout all ofTexas between September and May.Small rodents (mice and voles), amphibians,small reptiles, small rabbits, otherbirds, as well as some invertebratesStriped skunk and raccoons (on eggs),red fox, feral cats and other birdsAt one yearMarch through JuneNests are built on the ground or on amound of dirt or vegetation. They aremade of sticks and are lined inside withgrass and leaves. The nests are usually15 to 30 inches (38 to 76 cm) indiameter.Four to eight eggs are laid over severaldays. The eggs are bluish-white andusually unmarked.Between 24 to 39 daysThe young birds may leave the nest30 days after they hatched.12 yearsHABITATThe northern harrier prefers coastal prairies, marshes, grasslands,swamps and other open areas.BEHAVIORNorthern harriers hunt by flying low to the ground in openareas. Harriers circle an area several times listening and lookingfor prey. When they spot prey, they swoop down and grab theprey with their sharp claws. These are the only hawk-like birdknown to practice polygyny—one male mates with severalfemales. When incubating eggs, the female sits on the nestwhile the male hunts and brings food to her and the chicks.NOW YOU KNOW!• The genus name, Circus, comes from the Greek word kirkosand describes the bird’s habit of flying in low circles whilehunting; cyaneus refers to their blue-gray color.• Northern harriers can fly more than 100 miles (161 km)every day.• Harriers and other hawk-like birds can see eight times moreclearly than humans.• Since they nest on the ground, their nests are in danger ofbeing trampled by cattle and deer and are unprotectedfrom fires.• They depend heavily on hearing while hunting; the ruffledfeathers around their faces help direct sound towardstheir ears.NORTHERN HARRIERS ANDPEOPLEOnce upon a time, in some parts of Europe people believedthat seeing a harrier perched on a house was a sign that threepeople would die; on a happier note, some Native Americantribes believe that seeing a hawk on your wedding day is a signof a long, happy marriage.Many farmers like northern harriers because they eat predatorsof quail eggs and mice that damage crops. Harriers are sometimescalled “good hawks” because they pose no threat topoultry as some hawks do. Heavy pesticide use in the 1970sand 1980s caused a decline in harrier populations.PWD LF D0200-849U (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEBlack-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanusTPWD PHOTOThe black-necked stilt wades in shallow water to catch food. It iswidely distributed along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of theUnited States and is a common summer resident of the GulfCoast region.

Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanusAPPEARANCEHeight: 13 to17 inches (33 to 43 cm)Wingspan: About 27 inches (68 cm)HABITATBlack-necked stilts prefer marshes, mudflats, flooded fields,ponds and drainage ditches where food is abundant.Distinguishing Characteristics• Adult males have black backs, white bellies, black bills andlong red or pinkish legs.• Adult females look the same as males, but have brownishbacks.• Long, pointed black wings• Slender bill curves slightly upward.LIFE HISTORYRange: Along Atlantic and Pacific coasts as wellas the Gulf Coast. Sometimes in inlandstates such as Idaho, Kansas, or in theRocky Mountains. Winters in Brazil,Peru, the West Indies, and southernparts of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.Summers on the Gulf Coast.Diet: Worms, mollusks, shrimp, insects, smallfish and sometimes floating seedsPredators: Foxes, gulls, skunks, coyotes and otherbirdsSexual maturity: At one yearMating season: April through AugustNests: Built on the ground near water. Made ofsticks, mud, or shells, or scrapes in theground. May be lined with grass, twigs,and shells. Measure 6 to 10 inches(15 to 25 cm) in diameter.Eggs: Three or four eggs that are tan-coloredwith dark brown or black irregular spotsIncubation: 22 to 26 daysYoung: Chicks are able to run, walk and swimas soon as their down is dry, which isusually within 24 hours of hatching.Life span: Approximately 20 yearsBEHAVIORBlack-necked stilts may arrange their nests in small colonies ofsix to ten nests. Although parents share nest-tending throughthe incubation period, males will often mob intruders and willeven try to chase people away. After the chicks hatch, the parentswill remove all eggshells from the nest, probably to bettercamouflage the nest. At night, chicks will hide from predators inthe water, inhibiting predators from seeing them or smellingthem.NOW YOU KNOW!• Black-necked stilts are also called daddy longlegs, stilts andlongshanks.• Stilts’ legs are longer in proportion to their bodies than anyother bird except the flamingo.• Stilts belong to the family Recurvirostridae which, in Latin,means “bent bill.”• Black-necked stilts have partially webbed feet, which allowthem to swim—but they rarely do.BLACK-NECKED STILTSAND PEOPLEBecause they will use man-made structures such as drainageditches and sewage ponds for habitat, the range of blackneckedstilts is expanding.PWD LF D0200-849V (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEStone CrabMenippe mercenariaTPWD PHOTOStone crabs have huge, tan, black-tipped claws. These bulkyclaws are strong enough to crush an oyster shell, and make thesecrabs valuable for their meat.

Stone CrabMenippe mercenariaAPPEARANCEBEHAVIORCarapace (shell) length: 3 to 3.5 inches (7.6 to 8.9 cm) longand about 4 inches (10 cm) wideDistinguishing Characteristics• Brownish red with gray spots and tan underneath• Large and unequally-sized pincers tan with black tips• Females have a larger carapace (the top outer shell), butmales usually have larger claws than females.LIFE HISTORYRange: Along the Gulf CoastDiet: Oysters and other small mollusks, polychaeteworms and other crustaceans.They will also occasionally eat seagrassand carrion (remains of dead animals).Predators: Horse conch, grouper, sea turtles, cobia,octopi and humansSexual maturity: At one yearSpawning season: All spring and summerEggs: 500,000 to 1 millionYoung: The larvae go through six stages inabout 36 days before emerging asjuvenile stone crabs.Life span: Seven to eight yearsHABITATStone crabs prefer bottoms of bays, oyster reefs and rock jettieswhere they can burrow or find refuge from predators. Juvenilesdo not usually dig burrows, but instead hide among rocks or inseagrass beds.The male stone crab must wait for the female to shed herexoskeleton before they can mate. After mating, the male willstay to help protect the female for several hours to several days.The female will spawn four to six times each season. Adultstone crabs make burrows in mud or sand below the low tideline, lying in wait for prey.NOW YOU KNOW!• The stone crab loses its limbs easily to escape from predatorsor tight spaces, but their limbs will grow back. When a clawis broken in the right place, the wound will quickly heal itselfand very little blood is lost. If, however, the claw is broken inthe wrong place, more blood is lost and the crab’s chances ofsurvival are much lower. It only takes about one year for theclaw to grow back to its normal size. Each time the crabmolts its exoskeleton, the new claw grows larger.• The larger of the two claws is called the “crusher claw.” Thesmaller claw is called the “pincer claw.” If the larger crusherclaw is on the right side of the crab’s body, the crab is “righthanded.” If the crusher claw is on the left side of the crab’sbody, it is “left handed.”• Since crabs’ eyes are on stalks, they can see 360°.• A large crab claw can weigh up to half a pound.STONE CRABS AND PEOPLEMany people prefer to eat stone crab claws instead of blue crabclaws. The stone crab’s meat is supposed to taste like lobster.Because their claws can be regenerated, most states requirethat only one claw be removed and the crab be returned to thewater. This way, over-harvesting of the species is prevented.PWD LF D0200-849W (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFEStriped MulletMugil cephalusTPWD PHOTOStriped mullet can often be seen in coastal waters, jumping toevade predators. Because they are one of the most common preyitems of other commercially important coastal fish such asspotted seatrout, people often use them as bait.

Striped MulletMugil cephalusAPPEARANCELength: Adults: 9 to 19.5 inches (35 to 50 cm)Immature: 3 to 8 inches (7.6 to 17.8 cm)Distinguishing Characteristics• Irregularly round, silvery body• Dark bluish green back and dark longitudinal stripes onthe sides• Small mouthLIFE HISTORYHABITATStriped mullet are found in highly salty to fresh waters that arewarm or temperate (8º to 24º C). They spend a great deal oftime close to shore around the mouths of streams and rivers orin brackish bays, inlets and lagoons with sand or mud bottoms.BEHAVIORStriped mullet tend to school (swim together in groups) forprotection from predators in the daylight hours, although theyfeed around the clock.Range:Diet:Predators:Sexual maturity:Mating season:Eggs:Incubation:Young:Life span:Worldwide in warm to temperatecoastal watersZooplankton, benthic (bottom-dwelling)organisms and detritus (dead plantsand animals), and small invertebratesLarger fish, turtles, water snakes andwading birdsThree yearsLate October to December for Texasspecies; mature adults leave bays, collectin large schools and migrate offshoreto mateOne to seven million round eggs scatteredon the bottom; not guarded byadults36 to 38 hours at 24º C and 48 to50 hours at 22º COf millions of eggs spawned in offshorewaters, most are eaten by other species.Juveniles return to coastal locations tomature after they have reached 15 to32 mm long.Seven years for males; eight years forfemales, with a probable average lifespan of five yearsNOW YOU KNOW!• The oldest striped mullet on record is one that lived 13 years.• Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama harvest many tonsof mullet for commercial use.• The roe (eggs) are harvested and shipped to markets in Asiawhere they are considered a delicacy.STRIPED MULLET ANDPEOPLEIn Florida, striped mullet can be found on the menus of manyrestaurants, but in the western Gulf of Mexico (Texas andLouisiana waters), they take on an oily taste and are generallynot eaten. Instead, mullet are harvested for use as a bait fish.Striped mullet are also widely cultivated in freshwater ponds inSoutheast Asia where they are marketed fresh, dried, salted, andfrozen. They are a very important commercial species in manyparts of the world.PWD LF D0200-849X (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFESeagrassSubmerged Aquatic VegetationShoalgrassHalodule wrightiiTurtlegrassThalassia testudinumPHOTO BY WARREN PULICHPHOTO BY KEN DUNTONShoalgrass, widgeongrass, and turtlegrass are seagrasses thatoccur in Texas’ clear, shallow estuaries. Seagrasses areconsidered an indicator species—they provide clues to thehealth of the entire bay-estuarine system.

SeagrassSubmerged Aquatic VegetationSHOALGRASSHalodule wrightiiLEAF1/16 inch (1.5 mm) wide leavesHABITATGrows in high-salinity waters of all bays south from EastMatagorda Bay. Especially abundant in the Upper LagunaMadre. Declining in the Lower Laguna Madre and in WestGalveston Bay.WIDGEONGRASSRuppia maritimaLEAFVery narrow with pointed tips. Also produces yellow flowers.Often, branched shoots at a node.HABITATAbundant in low-salinity waters of all upper bay areas alongthe Texas coast. Often occurs in spring, growing with shoalgrass.Also, commonly occurs in brackish (salt/fresh) ponds nearthe coast.TURTLEGRASSThalassia testudinumLEAFNOW YOU KNOW!• More than 90% of the seagrass beds in Galveston Bay havebeen lost because of storms, hurricanes, disease, planktonbloomsand development.• About 80% of Texas’ existing seagrass habitat is located inthe Laguna Madre.• Not surprisingly, widgeongrass is the food of choice for alarge variety of ducks and sea turtles; fish and invertebrateseat turtlegrass.• Seagrasses are not true grasses. They are actually highlyspecialized flowering plants.SEAGRASSES AND THEECOSYSTEMSeagrass beds provide important habitat and are important contributorsto the estuarine food chain. Their decomposing leavesprovide nutrients for larval and juvenile shrimp, crabs and fish.Their leaves also provide protective cover for these species.Seagrass beds are great places to find spotted seatrout and redfish.Waterfowl, such as redhead ducks, feed on seagrass leavesand roots. Seagrass roots bind the soil together and help reduceerosion.SEAGRASSES AND PEOPLEDredging, boat propellers and high currents stir water and raisesediments making it difficult for sunlight to reach the seagrassesand preventing photosynthesis. Without sunlight, the seagrasseswill die.Seagrass habitats are wonderful areas for teachers to use as“outdoor classrooms!”1/4 to 1/2 inch (6.3 to 12.6 mm) wide, flat leavesHABITATOccurs in deeper waters of high salinities in Aransas, Redfish,Corpus Christi Bays and the Lower Laguna Madre. It is thedominant seagrass in the Laguna Madre. It is a slow growerand takes time to recover from any disturbance or stress.PWD LF D0200-849Y (8/02) NOTICE: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if youdesire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724.