Chain pickerel (Esox niger) fish species and information / pictures of Chain pickerel - Esox niger

Chain pickerel (Esox niger) fish species information

Scientific Name
Esox niger

Common Name
Chain pickerel

Biology
Live in vegetated lakes, swamps, and backwaters and quiet pools of creeks and small to medium rivers (Ref. 26373). Also found in deep, cold water with little or no vegetation (Ref. 39109, 39108). Adults migrate to deeper water during winter (Ref. 39110, 39097, 39111) undertaking shoreward spawning migrations soon after spring ice disappears (Ref. 39109). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Juveniles tend to lie motionless near shore or burrow themselves in mud beneath debris (Ref. 39112). Larvae hide among vegetation (Ref. 39113). Oviparous, with pelagic eggs.

Classification

Classified By

Lesueur, 1818

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Pikes and Mudminnows (Esociformes)

Family

Pikes (Esocidae)

Distribution

Region

North America

Distribution

North America: Nova Scotia, Canada (introduced) to southern Florida, USA; Gulf coast west to Sabine Lake drainage in Louisiana, USA; Mississippi River basin north to Kentucky and Missouri, USA. Introduced to Lakes Ontario and Erie drainages and elsewhere.

Range

46°N - 25°N

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

10 °C

Water Temperature To

20 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

6 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: ? - 22.0 demersal; non-migratory; depth range ? - 6 m (Ref. 39106)

Trophic Level

3.29 s.e. 0.46 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

99.0 cm

Common Length

41.9 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5627 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (58 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1-4; tmax=9; Fec=936)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated