Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Blacktail Shiner (Cyprinella venusta) - Uncertain Risk

Cyprinella venusta, the Blacktail Shiner, is a freshwater fish that is native to the Southeast states along the Gulf coast from the Rio Grande basin in Texas to the Suwanee River basin in Florida, north within the Mississippi basin to southern Illinois, west to the Red River basin of southern Oklahoma, and east to western Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky. C. venusta is commonly found in pools and runs of creeks, small and medium sized rivers with sandy and rocky bottoms, and in sparsely vegetated areas. They are not often targeted by anglers or present in the aquarium trade. C. venusta is only regulated in the state of Arkansas where it is listed as an aquaculture commercial fish. However, no further information was found regarding its aquacultural use. C. venusta has been introduced outside of its native range, but the History of Invasiveness for C. venusta is classified as Data Deficient due to unsupported information regarding the potential impacts of introduction. The climate matching analysis for the contiguous United States indicates establishment concern for this species outside its native range. There were high matches in the southeastern and south-central United States, around the native range of the species. The Certainty of Assessment is classified as Low due to lack of information regarding impacts of introduction and trade. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Cyprinella venusta in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.