OCC Fish ReviewOCC Fish Review

20092009

Spotted Spotted GarGar

Lepisosteus oculatas

Prominent broad snout, top of head

spotted

Longnose garLongnose garLepisosteus osseus

Extremely long and slender snout; few

spots, head and snout without spots

Shortnose GarShortnose GarLepisosteus platostomus

Short, broad snout

Body without spots

Grass PickerelGrass PickerelEsox americanus Esox americanus

Ducklike beak

Gizzard Shad;Gizzard Shad; Dorosoma cepedianum

Threadfin Shad; Threadfin Shad; Dorosoma petenense

Blunt snout

overhangs

subterminal

mouth

Terminal mouth

Chin speckled with black pigment

Caudal fin yellow in life

Central StonerollerCentral StonerollerCampostoma anomalumCampostoma anomalum

U-shaped horizontal mouth

Cartilaginous lower lip

Soft belly Black or brown spots where scales have

been lost

Red ShinerRed ShinerCyprinella lutrensisCyprinella lutrensis

Breeding males: • bright red-orange fins, • metallic blue sides, • purple scapular bar above pectoral fin

Common CarpCommon CarpCyprinus carpioCyprinus carpio

Long dorsal fin

2 pairs of barbels

Redspot ChubRedspot ChubNocomis asperNocomis asper

Barbel hidden at corner of

mouth

Red spot on

adults

Creek ChubCreek ChubSemotilus atromaculatusSemotilus atromaculatus

Large mouth

Black spots

White SuckerWhite SuckerCatostomus commersoniCatostomus commersoni

Papillose lips

Area between eyes flat

Very small scales

River CarpsuckerRiver Carpsucker Carpiodes carpio

Subtriangular shape of thesubopercle bone

Smallmouth BuffaloSmallmouth BuffaloIctiobus bubalus

Semicircular shape of thesubopercle bone

River Carpsucker

Smallmouth Buffalo

Northern Hog SuckerNorthern Hog SuckerHypentelium nigricansHypentelium nigricans

Papillose lips

Bigmouth BuffaloBigmouth BuffaloIctiobus cyprinellusIctiobus cyprinellus

Lips thin

Oblique, nearly

terminal mouth

Spotted SuckerSpotted SuckerMinytrema melanopsMinytrema melanops

Black spot at the base of each scale

Black RedhorseBlack RedhorseMoxostoma duquesneiMoxostoma duquesnei

• 44 – 47 lateral line scales• Slender caudal peduncle• 10 pelvic fin rays (usually)

Golden RedhorseGolden RedhorseMoxostoma erythrurumMoxostoma erythrurum

• 39 – 42 lateral line scales• Shorter, heavier caudal peduncle• 9 Pelvic fin rays

Yellow BullheadYellow BullheadAmeiurus natalisAmeiurus natalis

Straight or rounded caudal

fin margin

Whitish chin barbels

Free adipose fin

Black BullheadBlack BullheadAmeiurus melasAmeiurus melas

Free adipose fin

Gray or black chin

barbels

Almost square or slightly notched

caudal fin

Channel CatfishChannel CatfishIctalurus punctatusIctalurus punctatus

Deeply forked

caudal fin

Free adipose fin

Upper jaw protruding

beyond lower

Randomly scattered

spots

Short base,

rounded margin

Flathead CatfishFlathead CatfishPylodictis olivarisPylodictis olivaris

Mottled body

Head flattened between the eyes

Squared caudal fin

Projecting lower jaw

Blue CatfishBlue CatfishIctalurus furcatusIctalurus furcatus

Wedge shaped head, upper jaw projects

beyond lower

Deeply forked caudal

No black spots

Anal fin outer margin straight, long

base

Banded SculpinBanded SculpinCottus carolinaeCottus carolinae

White BassWhite BassMorone chrysopsMorone chrysops

Separate dorsal fins

Dark longitudinal stripes on sides; lower stripes

often discontinuous

Small head, acute snout, large mouth

Shadow BassShadow BassAmbloplites ariommusAmbloplites ariommus

Large mouth

5 or 6 anal spines

Dark blotches on

sides

Largemouth BassLargemouth BassMicropterus salmoidesMicropterus salmoides

Jaw extends behind eye

Deep notch

Dark band

Irregular spots

Smallmouth BassSmallmouth BassMicropterus dolomieuiMicropterus dolomieui

Sides plain or vertical

bars

Shallow notch

Cheek bars

Spotted BassSpotted BassMicropterus punctulatusMicropterus punctulatus

Lateral band of blotches

Horizontal rows of dark

spots

Shallow notch

Tooth patch on tongue

Caudal

spot

White CrappieWhite CrappiePomoxis annularisPomoxis annularis

Small head, large mouth Faint

vertical bars

5 or 6 dorsal spines

6 anal spines

Black CrappieBlack CrappiePomoxis nigromaculatusPomoxis nigromaculatus

Irregular black

speckles

7 or 8 dorsal spines

6 anal spine

s

Redear SunfishRedear SunfishLepomis microlophusLepomis microlophus

Long, pointed

pectoral fin

Red spot on

opercular flap

3 anal spines

Usually 10 dorsal spines

Longear SunfishLongear SunfishLepomis megalotisLepomis megalotis

Elongated opercular

flap

Pectoral fin short and rounded

Small mouth

BluegillBluegillLepomis macrochirusLepomis macrochirus

Small mouth

Long, pointed pectoral

fin

Dark blotch in soft dorsal fin

10 dorsal spines

3 anal spine

sMay have vertical

bars

Orangespotted SunfishOrangespotted SunfishLepomis humilisLepomis humilis

Large mout

h

Moderately long,

pointed pectoral fin

Orange

spots

Iris of eye red or orange

WarmouthWarmouthLepomis gulosusLepomis gulosus

Large head and

mouth

Lines radiating from eye to gill cover margin

Tooth patch on tongue

Short, round

pectoral fin

Green SunfishGreen SunfishLepomis cyanellusLepomis cyanellus

Large mout

h

Dark blotch

Short, round

pectoral fin Often has

dark vertical bars

Fin margins whitish orange

Freshwater DrumFreshwater DrumAplodinotus grunniensAplodinotus grunniens

Blunt snout, subterminal

mouth

Lateral line

High arching

back

Diamond shaped

caudal fin