1. 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))

2. 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))

3. 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))

4. 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))

5. 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))

6. 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))

7. 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))

8. 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))

9. 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))

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