Northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis)

Scientific name: Ptychocheilus oregonensis Richardson, 1836

Northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis)

The Northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae.

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9; Vertebrae: 44 - 46. Mot deep bodied, greatest depth 16.6% (TL), belly gently rounded in mature individuals. Head moderately long, its length 22.8% (TL); eye small in adults, 17.6% of head length, but larger in young 7.6 cm long, when 25.2% of head length; snout long, 33.1% of head length of adults; interorbital width 29.6% of head length; mouth large, extending back to below anterior margin of eye. All fins clear. Pelvic axillary process usually a ridge. Peritoneum present. Nuptial tubercles fine, on head and back, on pectoral and pelvic fins and sometimes on the caudal fin. Dark green or green-brown dorsally becoming silvery white or cream ventrally. The lower fins of the males become yellow or yellow-orange during spawning period.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Ptychocheilus oregonensis
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
63.0
Common length
22.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
North America: Pacific drainages from Nass River in British Columbia, Canada to Columbia River in Nevada, USA; Harney River basin in Oregon, USA; Peace River system (Arctic basin) in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.08-0.21)

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Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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