Chain Pickerel
Family:
Esocidae (pikes) in the order Esociformes (mudminnows and pikes)
Description:
Elongated body, snout shaped like a duck’s bill, large mouth with many sharp teeth. Back and sides olive or yellowish brown with a chainlike pattern of dark lines. Dorsal, or back fin, placed far back on the body. Similar to the smaller grass pickerel, which attain an average size of 10 to 12 inches, but both species seldom found in same waters. Adults lie motionless in dense stands of vegetation and ambush prey with a quick darting motion.
Size:
Total length: 16 to 22 inches.
Habitat and conservation:
Streams and some lakes of the southeastern Ozarks. Inhabit clear, quiet waters where aquatic vegetation is abundant, particularly in backwater sloughs of streams.
Foods:
Adults are carnivorous and feed on other fishes. Young feed on small crustaceans and aquatic insects.
Distribution in Missouri:
Limited to streams and some lakes of the southeastern Ozarks.
Status:
Game fish.
Life cycle:
They are random spawners. Instead of building a nest, they spread their eggs with a flick of their tail. A sticky coating on eggs allows them to adhere to vegetation. They live 8 to 9 years.
Human connections:
A favorite target of anglers.
Ecosystem connections:
Controls fishes, small crustaceans and aquatic insects. MDC's Mission, Vision, Priorities
MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.
Shortened URL
http://mdc.mo.gov/node/4364
