Freshwater Fish of the Northern U.S. & Canada

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Freshwater Fish of the Northern U.S. Canada

• Joel Berry
• Topic 1164 E

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Freshwater Fish of the Northern U.S. Canada
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Key Focus Points

• Correctly identify 7 species of fish
• Know 2-3 distinctive traits of each fish
• Correctly label the anatomy of a fish

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What are some examples of common freshwater fish?
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CATFISH

• Binomial Name Ictalurus punctatus
• Native Range From Canada to Mexico
• Habitat Catfish prefer deep rivers and lakes.
• www.eopb.org

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CATFISH

• Food Choice Catfish are considered scavengers
  that eat mostly animal matter.
• Catfish are identifiable by their barbels that
  are often called whiskers, thick skin instead
  of scales, and bony spines found near each gill
  plate and one located on the back.
• www.xanga.com

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LARGEMOUTH BASS

• Binomial Name Micropterus salmoides
• Native Range Eastern United States and Canada
• Habitat Quiet lakes and ponds with plenty of
  aquatic plant life
• www.krisweb.com

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LARGEMOUTH BASS

• Food Choice Bass prey mainly on aquatic animal
  such as minnows.
• Largemouth Bass are identifiable by the large
  horizontal black line down its side and for the
  jaw that extends beyond the eye.
• www.droppinaline.com

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SMALLMOUTH BASS

• Binomial Name Micropterus dolomieu
• Native Range Southern Canada to the Central
  United States
• Habitat clean flowing streams and shallow lakes
• www.wdaweb.com

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SMALLMOUTH BASS

• Food Choice Like its close relative the
  largemouth, the smallmouth feeds on small fish.
• Smallmouth can be identified by their brownish
  color and yellowish green color sides
• www.dnrec.state.de.us

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WALLEYE

• Binomial Name Stizostedion vitreum
• Native Range Canada and the Central U.S.
• Habitat rivers, lakes, and pools that are clear
  and have brushy banks
• www.gov.mb.ca

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WALLEYE

• Food Choice most often includes minnows and
  small perch
• Walleye can be distinguished by their amazing
  night vision. The tapetum lucidum is a light
  gathering tissue that allows walleye to hunt
  their prey at night.
• www.wildlifedepartment.com

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PERCH

• Binomial Name Perca flavescens
• Native Range Canada to Northeastern U.S.
• Habitat ponds, lakes, rivers, and deep pools
• www.assabetriver.org

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PERCH

• Food Choice Perch feed mostly on aquatic insects
  and small minnows.
• Perch are fairly smaller in size averaging only
  4-10 and have vertical bars down their sides.
• www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca

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PIKE

• Binomial Name Esox lucius
• Native Range most of the continental U.S.,
  Canada, and into Alaska
• Habitat marshes, ponds, rivers, and lakes, that
  have heavy vegetation
• www.wdaweb.com

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PIKE

• Food Choice Pike prey mainly on other fish
  including other pike.
• Pike can be identified by their sleek body that
  is built for speed and massive jaws that can
  swallow prey whole.
• cwr.ucdavis.edu

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BLUEGILL

• Binomial Name Lepomis macrochirus
• Native Range Canada to Mexico
• Habitat ponds, swamps, lakes, and pools with
  heavy vegetation
• www.ligtel.com

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BLUEGILL

• Food Choice Bluegills feed mainly on aquatic
  vegetation and fry
• Bluegills have an elaborate mating ritual and are
  often referred to as panfish.
• www.kentuckyawake.org

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Conclusion

• While these fish coexist in the same habitats
  they demonstrate amazing diversity within
  themselves.
• Continue on from this lecture by further
  investigation of distinguishing traits.
• Hint - practice labeling the anatomy of the
  fish