Ichthyology - Fish Families

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Last updated 12:25 AM on 4/13/26
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27 Terms

1
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Petromyzontidae

Lampreys

  • ID: Jawless, sucking mouth

  • Ecology: Parasitic or non-parasitic; larvae burrow

  • Uses: Limited food in some cultures; mostly ecological importance (often pests in Great Lakes)

<p><strong>Lampreys</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Jawless, sucking mouth</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Parasitic or non-parasitic; larvae burrow</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Limited food in some cultures; mostly ecological importance (often pests in Great Lakes)</p></li></ul><p></p>
2
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Acipenseridae

Sturgeons

  • ID: Bony scutes, long snout

  • Ecology: Bottom feeders, migratory

  • Uses: Caviar (eggs), meat, conservation value

<p><strong>Sturgeons</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Bony scutes, long snout</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Bottom feeders, migratory</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Caviar (eggs)</strong>, meat, conservation value</p></li></ul><p></p>
3
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Polyodontidae

Paddlefish

  • ID: Paddle-like snout

  • Ecology: Filter feeders

  • Uses: Roe sold as caviar substitute, sport fishing

<p><strong>Paddlefish</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Paddle-like snout</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Filter feeders</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Roe sold as <strong>caviar substitute</strong>, sport fishing</p></li></ul><p></p>
4
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Lepisosteidae

Gars

  • ID: Long snout, armored scales

  • Ecology: Ambush predators

  • Uses: Bowfishing/sport; historically scales used as tools/armor

<p><strong>Gars</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Long snout, armored scales</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Ambush predators</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Bowfishing/sport; historically scales used as tools/armor</p></li></ul><p></p>
5
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Amiidae

Bowfin

  • ID: Long dorsal fin

  • Ecology: Low-oxygen tolerant

  • Uses: Sometimes eaten; caviar substitute (“choupique caviar”); sport

<p><strong>Bowfin</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Long dorsal fin</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Low-oxygen tolerant</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Sometimes eaten; caviar substitute (“choupique caviar”); sport</p></li></ul><p></p>
6
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Hiodontidae

Mooneyes

  • ID: Silvery, large eyes

  • Ecology: Open-water feeders

  • Uses: Minor food fish; bait

<p><strong>Mooneyes</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Silvery, large eyes</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Open-water feeders</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Minor food fish; bait</p></li></ul><p></p>
7
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Anguillidae

Eels

  • ID: Snake-like

  • Ecology: Catadromous

  • Uses: Food (high-value), aquaculture, cultural importance

<p><strong>Eels</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Snake-like</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Catadromous</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Food (high-value), aquaculture, cultural importance</strong></p></li></ul><p></p>
8
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Clupeidae

Shad & Herring

  • ID: Silvery, schooling, sawbelly

  • Ecology: Planktivores

  • Uses: Major commercial fisheries, bait, oil, fertilizer

<p><strong>Shad &amp; Herring</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Silvery, schooling, sawbelly</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Planktivores</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Major commercial fisheries</strong>, bait, oil, fertilizer</p></li></ul><p></p>
9
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Cyprinidae

Minnows, Dace, Shiners, Chubs, & Carp

  • ID: No jaw teeth

  • Ecology: Very diverse

  • Uses: Food (carp), baitfish, aquaculture, ornamentals (koi, goldfish)

<p><strong>Minnows, Dace, Shiners, Chubs, &amp; Carp</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> No jaw teeth</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Very diverse</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Food (carp), baitfish, aquaculture, ornamentals (koi, goldfish)</strong></p></li></ul><p></p>
10
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Catostomidae

Buffalofish & Suckers

  • ID: Sucker mouth

  • Ecology: Bottom feeders

  • Uses: Food (regional), bait

<p><strong>Buffalofish &amp; Suckers</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Sucker mouth</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Bottom feeders</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Food (regional), bait</p></li></ul><p></p>
11
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Ictaluridae

Catfish, Bullheads, & Madtoms

  • ID: Barbels

  • Ecology: Bottom omnivores

  • Uses: Important food fish & aquaculture, sport fishing

<p><strong>Catfish, Bullheads, &amp; Madtoms</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Barbels</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Bottom omnivores</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Important food fish &amp; aquaculture</strong>, sport fishing</p></li></ul><p></p>
12
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Esocidae

Pikes, Pickerels, & Mudminnows

  • ID: Long, toothy

  • Ecology: Ambush predators

  • Uses: Sport fishing, food

<p><strong>Pikes, Pickerels, &amp; Mudminnows</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Long, toothy</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Ambush predators</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Sport fishing</strong>, food</p></li></ul><p></p>
13
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Osmeridae

Smelt

  • ID: Small, silvery

  • Ecology: Coldwater schooling

  • Uses: Food, bait; seasonal fisheries

<p><strong>Smelt</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Small, silvery</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Coldwater schooling</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Food, bait; seasonal fisheries</p></li></ul><p></p>
14
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Salmonidae

Trout, Whitefish, & Salmon

  • ID: Adipose fin

  • Ecology: Coldwater, often migratory

  • Uses: Major commercial + sport fisheries, aquaculture

<p><strong>Trout, Whitefish, &amp; Salmon</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Adipose fin</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Coldwater, often migratory</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Major commercial + sport fisheries</strong>, aquaculture</p></li></ul><p></p>
15
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Percopsidae

Trout-perch

  • ID: Small, translucent

  • Ecology: Nocturnal bottom feeders

  • Uses: Little direct use; forage species

<p><strong>Trout-perch</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Small, translucent</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Nocturnal bottom feeders</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Little direct use; forage species</p></li></ul><p></p>
16
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Aphredoderidae

Pirate perch

  • ID: Vent under throat

  • Ecology: Quiet waters

  • Uses: Minimal; ecological interest

<p><strong>Pirate perch</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Vent under throat</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Quiet waters</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Minimal; ecological interest</p></li></ul><p></p>
17
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Lotidae

Burbot

  • ID: Cod-like, chin barbel

  • Ecology: Coldwater bottom predator

  • Uses: Food fish, sport

<p><strong>Burbot</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Cod-like, chin barbel</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Coldwater bottom predator</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Food fish</strong>, sport</p></li></ul><p></p>
18
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Atherinopsidae

Silversides

  • ID: Slender, silver stripe

  • Ecology: Surface schooling

  • Uses: Bait, forage

<p><strong>Silversides</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Slender, silver stripe</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Surface schooling</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Bait, forage</p></li></ul><p></p>
19
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Fundulidae

Killifish & Topminnows

  • ID: Upturned mouth

  • Ecology: Surface feeders

  • Uses: Bait, research species

<p><strong>Killifish &amp; Topminnows</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Upturned mouth</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Surface feeders</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Bait</strong>, research species</p></li></ul><p></p>
20
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Poeciliidae

Mosquitofish

  • ID: Livebearers

  • Ecology: Shallow warm waters

  • Uses: Mosquito control (biological pest control)

<p><strong>Mosquitofish</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Livebearers</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Shallow warm waters</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Mosquito control (biological pest control)</strong></p></li></ul><p></p>
21
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Gasterosteidae

Sticklebacks

  • ID: Dorsal spines

  • Ecology: Nest builders

  • Uses: Research (evolution, behavior)

<p><strong>Sticklebacks</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Dorsal spines</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Nest builders</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Research (evolution, behavior)</p></li></ul><p></p>
22
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Cottidae

Sculpins

  • ID: Large head, bottom-dwelling

  • Ecology: Cold streams

  • Uses: Forage species; indicators of clean water

<p><strong>Sculpins</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Large head, bottom-dwelling</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Cold streams</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Forage species; indicators of clean water</p></li></ul><p></p>
23
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Moronidae

Temperate bass

  • ID: Silvery, 2 dorsals

  • Ecology: Open-water predators

  • Uses: Sport fishing, some commercial value

<p><strong>Temperate bass</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Silvery, 2 dorsals</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Open-water predators</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Sport fishing</strong>, some commercial value</p></li></ul><p></p>
24
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Centrarchidae

Sunfish, Bass, & Crappie

  • ID: Spiny dorsal

  • Ecology: Warmwater

  • Uses: Major sport fish, some food

<p><strong>Sunfish, Bass, &amp; Crappie</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Spiny dorsal</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Warmwater</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Major sport fish</strong>, some food</p></li></ul><p></p>
25
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Percidae

Perches & Darters

  • ID: Two dorsal fins

  • Ecology: Clear waters

  • Uses: Food (perch, walleye), sport

<p><strong>Perches &amp; Darters</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Two dorsal fins</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Clear waters</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Food (perch, walleye)</strong>, sport</p></li></ul><p></p>
26
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Sciaenidae

Drum

  • ID: Downturned mouth

  • Ecology: Bottom feeders

  • Uses: Food, sport fishing

<p><strong>Drum</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Downturned mouth</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Bottom feeders</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> <strong>Food, sport fishing</strong></p></li></ul><p></p>
27
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Gobiidae

Gobies

  • ID: Fused pelvic fins

  • Ecology: Benthic

  • Uses: Limited; some food globally; often invasive impacts

<p><strong>Gobies</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>ID:</em> Fused pelvic fins</p></li><li><p><em>Ecology:</em> Benthic</p></li><li><p><em>Uses:</em> Limited; some food globally; often invasive impacts</p></li></ul><p></p>