The San Marcos gambusia has now been declared extinct after 43 years on the endangered species list.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
San Marcos River fish among 21 species officially declared extinct
Published: Thu, 10/19/23
San Marcos River fish among 21 species officially declared extinct
It was put on the endangered species list in 1980.
The San Marcos gambusia has now been declared extinct after 43 years on the endangered species list.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
MYSA
By Catherine Wilson
As the nation continues to grow and change, especially in places like Texas, some species have struggled to adapt and have been put in danger of going extinct. On Monday, October 16, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it was removing 21 species from the endangered species list due to extinction, including a fish that once thrived in the waters of the San Marcos River, according to a recent news release.
It's been 40 years since the fish, known as the San Marcos Gambusia, made an appearance in the place it called home. However, the fish described in close resemblance to a mosquitofish and has a visible dark stripe along its upper dorsal fin, was put on the endangered species list three years prior to the last time it was seen, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
The fish that used to live in clear spring water emanating from the headwaters of the San Marcos River supposedly went extinct due to reduced water flow from the springs and potential pollution from nearby growing cities making the ecosystem it needed to survive uninhabitable. The introduction of non-native species could have also had a profound effect on the fish. Non-native species could impact the vegetation, prey on endangered animals, or set competition for food sources, according to the department.
San Marcos has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the last several decades. In 2000, the population of San Marcos was 36,120. In 2023 it was reported the population had grown to 70,372. By 2030, the population is estimated to reach 86,209, MySA reported.
The San Marcos Gambusia was originally part of a list of 22 extinct species published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2021. After two years of research 21 of those species have now officially been declared extinct.
“My heart breaks over the loss of these 21 species,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These plants and animals can never be brought back. We absolutely must do everything we can to avert the loss of even more threads in our web of life.”
In the next few decades, scientists fear more than a million species could be lost if action isn't taken. Suggested steps to stop the progression include stopping the exploitation of species, address climate change, reduce pollution, and prevent the spread of invasive species, according to the news release.