Fish of Montana
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
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There are at least 31 game and 59 non-game fish species known to occur in Montana.[1] Among Montana's fish, three are listed as endangered or threatened species and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks lists a number of species as Species of Concern.[2]
Species are listed by common name, scientific name, typical habitat and occurrence. Common and scientific names from the Montana Field Guide[1]
Game fish
Trout
Bull Trout
Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Salmonidae [3]
- Native species
- Westslope cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi (Salish: Pisɫ) [4]
- Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri
- Columbia River redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri
- Bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Salish: Aáy or Ɫaʔáy; Kutenai: Tuhuǂ) [4]
- Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus
- Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush
- Mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni (Salish: X̣ʷy̓u) [4]
- Pygmy Whitefish, Prosopium coulteri
- Lake Whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis
Brown trout
- Non-native, exotic species
- Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Other than the redband subspecies, rainbow trout are an introduced species in Montana)
- Brown trout, Salmo trutta
- Golden trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita
- Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis
- Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Kokanee Salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka
- Cisco, Coregonus artedi
Paddlefish
Paddlefish
Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Polyodontidae [5]
- Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula
Pike
Order: Esociformes, Family: Esocidae [6]
- Native species
- Northern Pike, Esox lucius
- Non-native, exotic species
- Tiger Muskellunge, Esox masquinongy x lucius
Bass, Sunfish
Black Crappie
Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae [7]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Black Crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides
- Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieu
- White Crappie, Pomoxis annularis
Perch
Yellowperch
Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae [8]
- Native species
- Sauger, Sander canadensis
- Yellow Perch, Perca flavescens
- Non-native, exotic species
- Walleye, Sander vitreus
Catfish
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae [9]
- Native species
- Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus
Sturgeon
Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Acipenseridae [10]
- Native species
- Pallid Sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus
- Shovelnose Sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
- White Sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus
Burbot
Burbot
Order: Gadiformes, Family: Gadidae [11]
- Native species
- Burbot, Lota lota
Non-game fish
Bass, Sunfish
Bluegill
Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae [7]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus
- Green Sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus
- Pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus
- Rock Bass, Ambloplites rupestris
Perch
Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae [8]
- Native species
- Iowa Darter, Etheostoma exile
Temperate Basses
Order: Perciformes, Family: Moronidae [12]
- Non-native, exotic species
- White Bass, Morone chrysops
Catfish
Yellow bullhead
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae [9]
- Native species
- Stonecat, Noturus flavus
- Non-native, exotic species
- Black Bullhead, Ameiurus melas
- Yellow Bullhead, Ameiurus natalis
Drum
Order: Perciformes, Family: Sciaenidae [13]
- Native species
- Freshwater Drum, Aplodinotus grunniens
Smelt
Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Osmeridae [14]
- Non native, exotic species
- Rainbow Smelt, Osmerus mordax
Gars
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Shortnose Gar
Order: Lepisosteiformes. Family: Lepisosteidae [15]
- Native species
- Shortnose Gar, Lepisosteus platostomus
Mooneyes
Order: Hiodontiformes, Family: Hiodontidae [16]
- Native species
- Goldeye, Hiodon alosoides
Mollies
Mosquitofish
Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Poeciliidae [17]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Green Swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri
- Sailfin Molly, Poecilia latipinna
- Shortfin Molly, Poecilia mexicana
- Variable Platyfish, Xiphophorus variatus
- Western Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis
Killifish
Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Fundulidae [18]
- Non-Native, exotic species
- Northern Plains Killifish, Fundulus kansae
- Banded Killifish, "Fundulus diaphanus"
Minnows
Sand shiner
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Cyprinidae [19]
- Native species
- Brassy Minnow, Hybognathus hankinsoni
- Emerald Shiner, Notropis atherinoides
- Fathead Minnow, Pimephales promelas
- Flathead Chub, Platygobio gracilis
- Golden Shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas
- Longnose Dace, Rhinichthys cataractae
- Northern Pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Salish: Qʷq̓é) [4]
- Northern Redbelly Dace, Phoxinus eos
- Northern Redbelly X Finescale Dace, Phoxinus eos x phoxinus neogaeus
- Peamouth, Mylocheilus caurinus
- Pearl Dace, Margariscus margarita
- Plains Minnow, Hybognathus placitus
- Redside Shiner, Richardsonius balteatus
- Sand Shiner, Notropis stramineus
- Sicklefin Chub, Macrhybopsis meeki
- Western Silvery Minnow, Hybognathus argyritis
- Sturgeon Chub, Macrhybopsis gelida
- Lake Chub, Couesius plumbeus
- Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus
- Non-native, exotic species
Suckers
White sucker
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Catostomidae [20]
- Native species
- Bigmouth Buffalo, Ictiobus cyprinellus
- Blue Sucker, Cycleptus elongatus
- Largescale Sucker, Catostomus macrocheilus
- Longnose Sucker, Catostomus catostomus
- Mountain Sucker, Catostomus platyrhynchus
- River CarpSucker, Carpiodes carpio
- Shorthead Redhorse, Moxostoma macrolepidotum
- Smallmouth Buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus
- White Sucker, Catostomus commersoni
Mudminnows
Order: Esociformes, Family: Umbridae [21]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Central mudminnow, Umbra limi
Sculpins
Mottled sculpin
Order: Scorpaeniformes, Family: Cottidae [22]
- Native species
- Deepwater Sculpin, Myoxocephalus thompsonii
- Mottled Sculpin, Cottus bairdi
- Slimy Sculpin, Cottus cognatus
- Spoonhead Sculpin, Cottus ricei
- Torrent Sculpin, Cottus rhotheus
Sticklebacks
Brook stickleback
Order: Gasterosteiformes, Family: Gasterosteidae [23]
- Native species
- Brook Stickleback, Culaea inconstans
Trout-perch
Order: Percopsiformes, Family: Percopsidae [24]
- Native species
- Trout-perch, Percopsis omiscomaycus
See also
- Amphibians and Reptiles of Montana
- Birds of Montana
- Clams and Mussels of Montana
- Fishes of Yellowstone National Park
Further reading
- "Montana Fisheries Information System". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- Burr, Brooks M.; Page, Lawrence M. (1991). A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes : North America North of Mexico (Peterson Field Guides). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0-395-91091-9.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Montana Field Guide". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ↑ Species of Concern are native taxa that are at-risk due to declining population trends, threats to their habitats, restricted distribution, and/or other factors. Designation as a Montana Species of Concern or Potential Species of Concern is based on the Montana Status Rank, and is not a statutory or regulatory classification. Rather, these designations provide information that helps resource managers make proactive decisions regarding species conservation and data collection priorities. "Species Status Codes". Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Trout". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Rockwell, David (2008). čɫq̓étkʷ ntx̣ʷétkʷs - ’a kinmituk - The Lower Flathead River, Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana, a cultural, historical, and scientific resource. Pablo, Montana: Salish Kootenai College Tribal History Project.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Paddlefish". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Pikes and Pickerels". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Montana Field Guide-Sunfishes". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Montana Field Guide-Perches". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Montana Field Guide-Catfish and Bullheads". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Sturgeon". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Burbot". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Temperate Basses". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Drums". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Smelt". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Gars". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Mooneyes". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Livebearers (Mosquitofish / Mollies / Swordtails)". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Killifish". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Minnows". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Suckers". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Mudminnows". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Sculpins". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Sticklebacks". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "Montana Field Guide-Trout-Perch". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
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