418 Fish ID Features

Small mouth ID features

• mouth does not extend past eye

• can have lines extending from the eye to the openculum

Black Crappie ID features

• attached dorsal fins

  • 7-8 dorsal fin spines

• large anal fin that almost mirrors the dorsal fin

  • 6-7 anal fin spines

• large, upturned mouth

• very deep bodied

• black flecking on body and fins

Rock Bass ID features

• two attached dorsal fins

• large eye

• 5-7 anal fin spines

• 10-12 dorsal fin spines

• typically dark

Pumpkinseed ID features

• two attached, continuous dorsal fins

• 3 anal fin spines

• opercular flap has a white margin with an orange dot

• often have blue and orange stripes on face

• body has many orange spots

• soft dorsal fin has many black spots

• juveniles have vertical bands with speckling in between

Bluegill ID features

• two continuous dorsal fins

• 3 anal fin spines

• opercular flap is all dark to the margin

• body with dark bars

• soft dorsal fin with black dot on posterior end

Bluntnose Minnow ID features

• rounded dorsal fin with dark spot on anterior end

• first dorsal spine is half the length of the soft part of the dorsal fin

• pre-dorsal scales are crowded - on top of head

• small subterminal mouth

• black line from nose to tail

• males during spawning season will develop small spots on the tip of the nose called nuptial tubercles

Blacknose Shiner ID features

• minnow

• triangular dorsal fin

• consistent dorsal scales

• slightly subterminal mouth

• pointier nose

• no black on lower lip

• forked tail

Golden Shiner ID features

• minnow

• large deep, bodied minnow

• single dorsal fin

• forked tail

• decurved lateral line

• small, slightly upturned terminal mouth

• gold colour

Common Carp ID features

• very large, deep bodied

• long dorsal fin with a single leading dorsal spine

• two pairs of barbels on upper lip, first pair shorter, second pair longer

• large scales

Yellow Perch ID features

• two separate dorsal fins

• yellow sides and underbelly with orange fins

• 6-8 dark vertical bars

• emarginate (indented) tail

Walleye ID features

• separate dorsal fins - first spiny, second soft

• caudal fin lower lobe has a white spot on the bottom

• upper body is darker brown, sides are lighter gold to yellow and fade into a white belly

• spiny dorsal fin has spots and a dark spot at the posterior base

• lower jaw has large canines

• tail is more forked than perch

Johnny Darter ID features

• two separate dorsal fins

• rounded caudal fin

• spots on dorsal and caudal fins

• saddles

• spots on body form M, W, or X shapes

• subterminal mouth and rounded snout

Iowa Darter ID features

• terminal mouth

• two separate dorsal fins with an orange-red band on the first soft one

• dark blue-green markings on sides

• yellow belly

• dark teardrop bar below eye

Ictaluridae

north american catfishes

• flattened head

• adipose fin

• four pairs of barbels

• no scales

• dorsal and pectoral fins have spines

• 3 species in ontario - brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, and channel catfish

Brown Bullhead ID features

• dark barbels under chin

• mottled body with olive, brown grey or dark blue colour

• pectoral fin spines serrated on posterior edge

• slightly concave tail - rounded

Yellow Bullhead ID features

• white barbels under chin

• typically lighter than brown bullhead

• pectoral fin spines serrated on posterior edge

• slightly concave tail - rounded

Channel Catfish ID features

• elongated body

• forked tail

• pelvic fins pointed more downwards than bullheads

• large - up to 25 lbs

Esocidae

pikes

• large, elongated bodies

• flattened, elongated snout

• single dorsal fin that is set far back

• large teeth

• 3 species in ontario - northern pike, muskellunge, grass pickerel

Northern Pike ID features

• light markings on dark body

  • mostly oriented horizontally

• 5 pairs of submandibular pores

• emarginate (indented) tail that is slightly rounded

Muskellunge ID features

• dark markings on light body

• can be gold, tan, green, or brown

• 6-9 pairs of submandibular pores

• tail is more forked than a pikes

Banded Killifish ID features

• single soft dorsal

• square tail

• small upturned mouth

Central Mudminnow ID features

• terminal mouth - extends to the front margin of the eye

• dark bar at caudal peduncle

• rounded tail

• irregular dark blotches or bars may be present

Brook Stickleback ID features

• 4-7 (usually 5) isolated dorsal spines

• no scales

• narrow caudal peduncle

• may have light spots or modeling

Salmonids

• trouts and salmons

• adipose fin

• preopercle

• streamlined, deep-bodied

• single soft dorsal

Brook Trout ID features

• square or emarginate tail

• white, yellow, and red spots - some with blue halos

• vermiculation on the back

• red pelvic and anal fins

• white then black on the leading edge - white then black, then red

• narrow anal fin - leading edge extends beyond the posterior base

Lake Trout ID features

• dark green body with light spots - often continue onto the tail

• deeply forked tail

• white leading edge on pelvic and anal fins

• narrow anal fin - leading edge extends beyond the posterior base

Brown Trout ID features

• brown in stream run fish - get silver in the great lakes

• silver halos around dark or red spots

• marginate tail

• narrow anal fin - leading edge extends beyond the posterior base

• maxilla extends beyond eye

Rainbow Trout ID features

• silvery body

• black spots throughout - even on the tail (radiating) and adipose fin

• pink along midline

• emarginate tail

• narrow anal fin - leading edge extends beyond the posterior base

Atlantic Salmon ID features

• spots in X shape above the lateral line

• 3-4 dark spots in the opercular flap

• forked tail with no spots

• narrow anal fin - leading edge extends beyond the posterior base

• silver body

• smaller mouth - maxilla ends around the eye

Chinook Salmon ID features

• largest

• silvery body with dark spots

• spots only above the lateral line - spots on tail

• emarginate tail

• broad, rectangular fin - leading edge does not extend beyond posterior base

• black gums

Coho Salmon ID features

• white gums

• silvery body

• spots only above lateral line and on the top of the tail

Pink Salmon ID features

• forked tail with long elongate spots

• silvery body with dark spots above the midline

• broad, rectangular fin - leading edge does not extend beyond posterior base

• male develops large hump behind head during spawning

Cisco ID features

• distinct silver scales

• forked tail

• pointed head

• looks like a sardine

• terminal mouth

Lake Whitefish ID features

• silvery body with distinct scales

• snout overhangs

• small subterminal mouth

• forked tail

White Bass ID features

• silver body with several broken stripes

• anal fin has 3 fins with different lengths

White Perch ID features

• short, long long, anal fins

• silvery with a green, blue, or brassy tint

• lateral line often more evident than white bass - no stripes

Mooneye ID features

• medium mouth

• dorsal fin set far back, but in front of origin of anal fin and is small

• smooth keel - from head to anal fin

• large eye - silver-gold in colour

White sucker ID features

• slightly deep bodies

• snout overhangs the subterminal mouth

• white on bottom

• smaller scales near the head, larger scales near the tail

• most common suckers in ontario

Silver redhorse ID features

• snout is even with the subterminal mouth

• scales are consistently large from head to tail

• deep bodied, silvery scales

Longnose gar ID features

• very elongate

• diamond shaped scales

• single soft dorsal fin set very far back

• olive green or brown, may have spots

• sharp teeth

Lake sturgeon ID features

• very large

• elongate with triangular snout

• subterminal mouth that is set far back

• 4 barbels below the snout in front of the mouth

• asymmetrical tail - heterocercal

• head and body cover with bony scutes

Bowfin ID features

• large head with elongate body

• bony gular plate on underside of head

• single dorsal fin that extends most of the length of the back

• rounded tail

• spot on top of caudal peduncle - can be faint in females

Burbot ID features

• single barbel on chin

• 2 dorsal fins - first short, second very long

• long anal fin

• rounded caudal fin

• mottled yellow, brown, or black colour

Sea lamprey ID features

• very elongate

• scaleless eel-like body

• 7 pore-like openings behind each eye

• large, round, and jawless mouth with large teeth

• 2 dorsal fins

• invasive species

American eel ID features

• lower lip extends beyond upper lip

• long, dorsal and anal fins that are continuous

• no pelvic fins

• very small scales

Alewife ID features

• single dorsal fin

• forked tail

• upturned mouth - lower jaw extends beyond mouth

• saw-tooth keel

• dark spot behind gill cover

• invasive species

• no adipose fin

Rainbow smelt ID features

• adipose fin

• forked tail

• single soft dorsal

Freshwater drum ID features

• very large

• single long dorsal - front spiny notched then soft dorsal

• rounded tail

• first pelvic fin ray is extended

• high arched head to the dorsal fin

• rounded snout overhangs mouth

• upturned lateral line

Round goby ID features

• small, slightly deep bodied

• large, round head

• 2 dorsal fins - first short with a black spot, the second long

• pelvic fins fused together to form suction disc

Mottled sculpin ID features

• head is flat

• pelvic fins not fused

• 2 dorsal fins - first short

Centrarchidae

• sunfishes and basses

• two attached dorsal fins - first spiny, second soft

• forked or emarginate caudal fin

• deep bodied, laterally compressed