Fishes of Idaho
The Study of Fish
= Ichthyology
Early civilizations studied Fish
Important as: Food Source Cultural Ceremonial
Why do we continue to Study Fish?
Because they are important
*Ecologically – part of the web of life
*Provide jobs &
Food – Yummm !
*Fishing is Fun !Fish
Are Cool
*Fish are Interesting & Beautiful
Fish Fact: fish have two names
1. Common name: bluegill (bream, roach, shellcracker, sunfish, France = crapet)
2. Scientific name: Lepomis macrochirus
Fish Fact: there are more kinds of fishthan kinds of birds + mammals + reptiles
28,800 different species
Many different Shapes:
More Shapes:
Many Different Sizes:
Smallest = Infantfish
1/100 meter
Largest = Whale shark 12
meters
Many Different Colors:
Anglers imitate insects with fur and feathers
Many Different Habitats:
Habitat = the place where fish live
Three Main Habitats:
58% Live in
Salt Water
41% Live in
Fresh Water
The rest (1%) Live inFresh & Salt Water
& Swim back and forth
The Path salmon swim from Idaho to the ocean
and back again
= Anadromous Fish
How would this dam affect migrating salmon?
Fish Fact: United States (including Alaska and Hawaii)
2,000 different species
40 now extinct
Fish Fact: Idaho
39 native fish species -1 extinct
>60 exotic fish species
Fish Fact: Idaho has 8 Native Fish groups:
1. Sturgeon
2. Lamprey
3. Minnows
4. Suckers
5. Sculpin
6. Codfish
7. Trout-Perch 8. Whitefish/Trout/Salmon
1. Sturgeon
Idaho = White sturgeon
Sturgeon feed on salmon carcasses
1,500 pound Idaho Sturgeon - 1911
2. Lamprey
Idaho = Pacific Lamprey
3. Minnows
Ten (10) Species
4. Suckers
Six (6) Species
5. Sculpin
Eight (8) Species
6. Codfish
Idaho = Burbot
Live in large lakes in Northern Idaho
7. Troutperch
Idaho = Sandroller
Adipose fin
Adipose fin = unique to the sandroller, trout, whitefish, and salmon
8. Whitefish/Trout/Salmon
Eleven (11) Species
Whitefish
Five (5) Species
Mountain Whitefish
Trout
Three (3) Species
= Cutthroat Trout
What is the Idaho State Fish ?
Yellowstone
Westslope
Bull Trout
Rainbow Trout
Anadromous Rainbow = Steelhead
Salmon
Three (3) Species
Salmon Nest
Salmon eggs are buried in gravel
After spawning, all salmon die& add nutrients to the streams
Chinook salmon = King salmon
97 poundChinookSalmon
from Alaska
Sockeye salmon = redfish
Redfish LakeRedfish Lake
Coho salmon = extinct in Idaho
Habitat UseDifferent size fish live in different habitats
The Exotic Invaders
= Fish not native to Idaho
How did Exotic Fish
Come to Idaho ?
People Brought them here
Grayling
Bluegill
Perch
Bass
Northern Pike
1. Sturgeon = 1
2. Lamprey = 1
3. Minnows = 10
4. Suckers = 6
5. Sculpin = 8
6. Codfish = 1
7. Trout-Perch = 1 8. Whitefish = 5
Trout = 3 Salmon: 3-1 extinct = 2
ANYQUESTIONS ?