Scientific Name
Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Common Name
Black crappie

Biology
Inhabits lakes, ponds, sloughs, and backwaters and pools of streams (Ref. 1998, 10294). Usually occurs among vegetation over mud or sand, most common in clear water. Forms schools (Ref. 1998). Feeds early in the morning, from midnight to 2 am (Ref. 1998). Individuals up to 16 cm feed on planktonic crustaceans and free-swimming, nocturnal, and dipterous larvae; larger individuals feed on small fishes (Ref. 1998, 10294). May be preyed upon by other fishes (Ref. 1998).

Classification

Classified By

Lesueur, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Sunfishes (Centrarchidae)

Distribution

Region

North America

Distribution

North America: widely introduced throughout USA that native range is difficult to determine; presumably Atlantic Slope from Virginia to Florida, Gulf Slope west to Texas in the USA, St. Lawrence-Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Manitoba in Canada south to Gulf of Mexico.

Range

52°N - 27°N

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

31 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

4.21 s.e. 0.53 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

49.0 cm

Common Length

27.5 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (53 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.11-0.45; tmax=13; Fec=26,700)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated