Invasive, Prohibited and Exotic Species

The organisms listed here are legally classified as exotic, harmful, or potentially harmful. No person may import, possess, sell, or place them into water of this state except as authorized by rule or permit issued by the department. For more information, contact Earl Chilton or call (512) 389-4444.

Check our Quick Reference Guide* for illustrations that can help identify these organisms and distinguish them from other species that share similar characteristics.

* This document is an excerpt from the Guide to Identification of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Fishes, Shellfishes and Aquatic Plants Prohibited in Texas [PWD BK T3200-376 (1999).] The complete 370-page book is available as a PDF in our publications section.

Fish | Shellfish | Aquatic Plants

Fish

Lampreys, Family Petromyzontidae

All species except Ichthyomyzon castaneus and I. gagei

Freshwater Stingrays, Family Potamotrygonidae

All species

Arapaima, Family Osteoglossidae

Arapaima gigas

South American Pike Characoids, Family Characidae

All species of genus Acestrorhyncus

African Tiger Fishes, Family, Subfamily Alestiidae: Hydrocyninae

All species of genus Hydrocynus

Piranhas and Pirambebas, Family Serrasalmideae, Subfamily Serrasalminae

All species except pacus of the genus Piaractus

Payara and other wolf or vampire tetras, Family Characidae, Subfamily Rhaphiodontinae

All species of genera Hydrolycus and Rhaphiodon, including Cynodon

Dourados, Family Characidae, Subfamily Bryconinae

All species of genus Salminus

South American Tiger Fishes, Family Erythrinidae

All species

South American Pike Characoids, Family Ctenolucidae

All species of genera Ctenolucius and Boulengerella, including Luciocharax and Hydrocinus

African Pike Characoids, Families Hepsetidae and Ichthyboridae

All species

Electric Eels, Family Electrophoridae

Electrophorus electricus

Carps and Minnows, Family Cyprinidae

All species and hybrids of species of genera:
Aspius, Pseudoaspius, Aspiolucius (Asps);
Abramis, Blicca, Megalobrama, Parabramis (Old World Breams);
Hypophthalmichthys or Aristichthys (Bighead Carp);
Mylopharyngodon (Black Carp);
Ctenopharyngodon (Grass Carp);
Cirrhinus (Mud Carp);
Thynnichthys (Sandkhol Carp);
Hypophthalmichthys (Silver Carp);
Catla (Catla);
Leuciscus (Old World Chubs, Ide, Orfe, Daces);
Tor, including the species Barbus hexiglonolepsis (Giant Barbs and Mahseers);
Rutilus (Roaches);
Scardinius (Rudds);
Elopichthys (Yellowcheek);
Catlocarpio (Giant Siamese Carp);
All species of the genus Labeo (Labeos) except Labeo chrysophekadion (Black SharkMinnow)

Walking Catfishes, Family Clariidae

All species

Electric Catfishes, Family Malapteruridae

All species

South American Parasitic Candiru Catfishes, Subfamilies Stegophilinae and Vandelliinae

All species

Pike Killifish, Family Poeciliidae

Belonesox belizanus

Marine Stonefishes, Family Synanceiidae

All species

Tilapia, Family Cichlidae

All species of genera Tilapia, Oreochromis and Saratherodon

Asian Pikeheads, Family Luciocephalidae

All species

Snakeheads, Family Channidae

All species
Learn more about snakeheads

Old World Pike-Perches, Family Percidae

All species of the genus Sander except Sander vitreum

Nile Perch, Family Centropomidae (also called Latidae)

All species of genera Lates and Luciolates

Seatrouts and Corvinas, Family Sciaenidae

All species of genus Cynoscion except Cynoscion nebulosus, C. nothus, and C. arenarius

Whale Catfishes, Family Cetopsidae

All species

Ruffe, Family Percidae

All species of genus Gymnocephalus

Air sac Catfishes, Family Heteropneustidae

All species

Swamp Eels, Rice Eels or One-Gilled Eel, Family Synbranchidae

All species

Freshwater Eels, Family Anguilliidae

All species except Anguilla rostrata

Round Gobies, Family Gobiidae

All species of genus Neogobius, including N. melanostoma

Temperate Basses, Family Moronidae

All species except for Morone saxatilis, M. chrysops and M. mississippiensis and hybrids between these three species

Temperate Perches, Family Percichthyidae

All species, including species of the genus Siniperca (Chinese perches)

Shellfish

Crayfishes, Family Parastacidae

All species

Mittencrabs, Family Grapsidae

All species of genus Eriocheir

Applesnails and Giant Ram's-horn Snails

All genera and species of the Family Ampullariidae (previously called Pilidae) including Pomacea and Marisa, except spiketop applesnail (Pomacea bridgesii)

Zebra Mussels, Family Dreissenidae

All species of genus Dreissena

Penaeid Shrimp, Family Penaeidae

All species of genera Penaeus, Litopenaeus, Farfantepenaeus, Fenneropenaeus, Marsupenaeus, and Melicertus (all previously considered Penaeus) except L. setiferus, Far. aztecus and Far. duorarum

Oysters, Family Ostreidae

All species except Crassostrea virginica and Ostrea equestris

Aquatic Plants

Giant or Dotted Duckweed, Family Lemnaceae

Landolita punctata

Salvinia, Family Salviniaceae

All species of genus Salvinia, including Salvinia molesta (giant salvinia)
Learn more about invasive aquatic plants

Waterhyacinths, Family Pontederiaceae

Eichhornia crassipes (floating waterhyacinth) and Eichhornia azurea (rooted waterhyacinth)

Waterlettuce, Family Araceae

Pistia stratiotes

Hydrilla, Family Hydrocharitaceae

Hydrilla verticillata

Lagarosiphon, Family Hydrocharitaceae

Lagarosiphon major

Eurasian Watermilfoil, Family Haloragaceae

Myriophyllum spicatum

Alligatorweed, Family Amaranthaceae

Alternanthera philoxeroides

Paperbark, Family Myrtaceae

Melaleuca quinquenervia

Torpedograss, Family Gramineae

Panicum repens

Water Spinach, Family Convolvulaceae

Ipomoea aquatica (also called ong choy, rau mong and kangkong)

Ambulia

Limnophila sessiflora

Narrowleaf False Pickerelweed

Monochoria hastata

Heartshaped False Pickerelweed

Monochoria vaginalis

Duck-lettuce

Ottelia alismoides

Wetland Nightshade

Solanum tampicense

Exotic Bur-reed

Sparganium erectum

Brazilian Peppertree

Schinus terebinthifolius

Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria