Esocidae (pikes) Large size Torpedo shaped “Duck bill” Fanglike teeth Fish of Isle Royale web album Large size Torpedo shaped “Duck bill” Fanglike teeth Soft-rayed dorsal fin toward posterior end of body Caudal fin homocercal, forked David Gagnon northern pike (Esox lucius))

Esocidae Predators of vertebrates Ambush predators of vegetated lakes Fish, amphibians, birds, mammals Ambush predators of vegetated lakes Important IA sportfish GLERL/NOAA muskellunge (Esox masquinongy))

Cyprinidae (minnows) Most small, a few large Mouth terminal or subterminal; some with barbels and/or suckerlike lips Fins of soft rays (exceptions: common carp, goldfish have 1 hard ray on dorsal fin) Dorsal fin with < 10 rays (exceptions: common carp, goldfish have more, but lack suckerlike lips) Cycloid scales Cyprinidae (minnows) Konrad Schmidt Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka))

Cyprinidae Most abundant IA fishes in numbers of individuals, species, and biomass Critical link in food webs Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and other exotic species threaten native species, ecosystems Jane Cerza, Stratford Landing Virginia Elementary School common carp (Cyprinus carpio))

Catostomidae (suckers) Mouth usually subterminal; lips usually suckerlike and thick, often papillose, plicate (exception: bigmouth buffalo) Fins of soft rays Dorsal fin usually with > 10 rays Anal fin near posterior end Cycloid scales Catostomidae (suckers) GLERL/NOAA quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus)) Iowa DNR northern hog sucker (Hypentelium nigricans))

Catostomidae Important food web components Spectacular spawning runs Many IA species endangered/extirpated (sensitive to environmental change) Buffalofishes commercially important (1+ million lbs. harvested annually from border rivers) GLERL/NOAA bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus))

Ictaluridae (bullheads, catfishes) Flat head with abundant, long barbels Sharp, heavy dorsal and pectoral spines (hard rays) Adipose fin Scaleless body USDA Forest Service channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus))

Ictaluridae Primarily benthivorous; omnivorous Glands in hard rays release irritating chemical; madtom hard rays venomous Important food and sportfish; channel catfish might be most popular sportfish in IA. Iowa DNR black bullhead (Ameiurus melas))

Percopsidae (trout-perches) Small body Dorsal, pelvic, anal fins with spines (perch-like) Adipose fin (trout like) Caudal fin forked Iowa DNR trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus))

Percopsidae Consume aquatic invertebrates Trout-perch (P. omiscomaycus) inhabits streams, lakes of northwest IA Too small to be commercially important trout-perch (Percopis omiscomaycus))