FISH IDENTIFICATION AND ADAPTATIONS

Shape

Allows movement through the water without much resistance

Helps minimize energy necessary for motion

Most fish have a long , streamlined shape

Color

Fish want to remain undetected by other fish

Serves two purposes Undetected by predators Undetected by prey, easier to feed

Reflects the habitat in which a species lives

Top usually dark, bottom usually light colored to help be undetected

Fins

3 purposes: stability, positioning, locomotion

Fins on the back: dorsal fins Fins on the stomach: pelvic and anal fins Without fish not able to stay upright

Pectoral fins (stick out on sides) help fish ‘aim’ itself in the water

Fins

Tail fin: caudal fin Push the fish to provide locomotion

Fins are thin membrane supported by a network of rays and spines Spines are hard and sharp; pointed ends;

some fish Rays are soft; branch out at the end; most fish

Draw the dorsal, pelvic, pectoral and anal fins

Were we right?

Dorsal

Pectoral

Pelvic

Anal

Caudal

Sensory OrgansSENSE DESRIPTION WELL-

DEVELOPEDPOORLY

DEVELOPED

Sight

Eyes: Many can see above, below, ahead

& behind themSmaller eyes in turbid

waters

In many species In turbid water

SmellNostrils: Provides entry for odors

All fish: extremely well (especially those

with poor sight)

HearingEars: Lacking. Sound travels through skin

to inner ear

Most fish cannot pinpoint sounds

TasteTaste buds: Inside and outside their

mouthsX

Vibration Sensation

Lateral Line: Runs from head toward tail

(canal of cells sensitive to low

frequency vibrations)

Important for detecting predators

or prey, avoiding obstacles and

maintaining position

WISCONSIN SPORTFISH IDENTIFICATION

Sunfish

Scrappy fighters North American ‘Warm water’ fish Prefer nutrient-rich shallows around lakes

and backwaters of rivers Most are spring spawners and are nest

builders Males guard fertilized eggs

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass Upper jaw does not extends

beyond the eye Slight notch in dorsal fin Caudal fin is not forked and not

rounded Red eye Dark, vertical stripe along sides

Largemouth Bass

Upper jaw extends beyond the eye

Deep notch in dorsal fin Caudal fin is forked and rounded Golden-brown eye Dark, irregular horizontal stripe

along lateral line

Largemouth Bass

Pumpkinseed

Pumpkinseed Lateral facial markings Bright orange spot on tip of gill cover 7-8 dark vertical bands Very similar to bluegill Very colorful, but color is a poor ID

indicator.

Bluegill

Bluegill 1/2 as deep as long under 1” thick blue color on lower portion of both the

jaw and operculum Color is NOT a good way to identify Dark round spot on the rear dorsal fin 5-9 dark vertical bands running down

their sides.

Crappie

Both Black and White (black = 7-8 dorsal spines, white = 6 dorsal spines.)

Mottled Markings Color is not a good identification

indicator Very thin, perhaps the thinnest of all

sunfish 8-10 inches is common

Crappie

Rock Bass

Brown eye Brown coloration, with light

vertical stripes along the sides

Rock Bass

Perch

Schooling predators Abundant across most of the northern

U.S. Cool lakes and streams Considered finest eating of freshwater

game fish Spawning occurs in spring Fertilized eggs left unguarded over sand,

gravel or rocks

Walleye

Canines along the lower jaw irregularly-shaped vertical blotches

along sides Upper half of body has mottled vertical

stripes Dark blotch on back of anterior dorsal

fin, no spots on dorsal fin Silvery, opaque marble eyes that glow

in the dark White tip on lower edge of caudal fin

Walleye

Sauger

Very similar to a walleye spots on the anterior dorsal

fin, no black blotch at the back of anterior dorsal

no white tip on low caudal fin

Sauger

Yellow Perch

Golden Yellow Coloration on their sides. (may vary)

6-8 dark vertical bands along their sides have two dorsal fins, membrane

between the two is black caudal fin is slightly rounded and forked 3.5 times as long as deep unlike walleyes, they do not have

canines

Yellow Perch

Salmon/Trout

Support freshwater and saltwater recreational and commercial fisheries

Cold water fish Average weight: <1 lb to more than 40lbs Have delicate, rich, oily pink to red flesh Fast streams, deep lakes

Brook Trout

Has an elongated and compressed body squared-tail wormlike markings on back and head red spots along the side of their bodies

with blue halos. Lower fins have a white leading edge,

followed by a black border

Brook Trout

Brown Trout

“X” shaped markings on back and upper half of their body

squared tail numerous small spots on the

head inside of the mouth is white 10-12 anal rays

Brown Trout

Rainbow Trout

Many small spots on the body Distinctive pink horizontal stripe

down each side of the body squared tail with spots 10-12 anal rays

Rainbow Trout

Lake Trout

Silvery color with irregular wormlike markings on back and dorsal fin

Light spots in body and tail deeply forked tail with spots on edge

leading to the body 10-11 rays in their anal fin inside of mouth is white

Lake Trout

Chinook Salmon

Some black spots on upper half of body

grey-black mouth, with teeth set in black gums

squared tail with spots on both halves

15-19 anal rays

Chinook Salmon

Coho Salmon

Small black spots on backs, sides above the lateral line, base of dorsal fin, and upper half of caudal fin.

Inside of mouth is grey or black, with teeth set in white gums

Slightly forked tail 12-15 anal rays

Coho Salmon

Catfish/Bullhead

Found in almost every type of habitat Some grow quite large (100+lbs) Spines- can puncture and cause sharp

bee-sting pain Have whiskers Bottom Dwellers

Channel Catfish

Scaleless, tough skin 8 barbels Three sharp spines, (1 dorsal, 2

pectoral) Black spots on lower side of

body Deeply forked caudal fin

Channel Catfish

Flathead Catfish

• Scaleless, tough skin• 8 barbels• Three sharp spines, (1 dorsal, 2 pectoral)• No spots on lower side of body• squared caudal fin• flattened head• lower lip protrudes past upper lip

Flathead Catfish

Yellow Bullhead

Black, Brown or Yellow species

Scaleless, tough skin 6 barbels Sharp spines (1 dorsal, 2

pectoral) Caudal fin is slightly notched

and squared

Yellow Bullhead

Carp

World’s biggest minnow Huge, platelike gold scales Tolerate an enormous range of conditions

Carp

Rough fish Very scaly Barbels Much like a sucker

Carp