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:

Many food preferences:

=

=

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 ?