List of fish of Montana facts for kids
There are at least 31 game and 59 non-game fish species known to occur in Montana. Among Montana's fish, three are listed as endangered or threatened species and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks lists a number of species as species of concern.
Species are listed by common name, scientific name, typical habitat and occurrence. Common and scientific names are from the Montana Field Guide.
Contents
Game fish
Trout
Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Salmonidae
- Native species
- Westslope cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi (Salish: Pisɫ)
- Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri
- Columbia River redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri
- Bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Salish: Aáy or Ɫaʔáy; Kutenai: Tuhuǂ)
- Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus
- Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush
- Mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni (Salish: X̣ʷy̓u)
- Pygmy whitefish, Prosopium coulteri
- Lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis
- Non-native, exotic species
- Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Other than the redband subspecies, rainbow trout are an introduced species in Montana)
- Brown trout, Salmo trutta
- Golden trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita
- Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis
- Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Kokanee salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka
- Cisco, Coregonus artedi
Paddlefish
Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Polyodontidae
- Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula
Pike
Order: Esociformes, Family: Esocidae
- Non-native, exotic species
- Northern pike, Esox lucius
- Tiger muskellunge, Esox masquinongy × lucius
Bass, Sunfish
Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae
- Non-native, exotic species
- Black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides
- Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu
- White crappie, Pomoxis annularis
Perch
Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae
- Native species
- Sauger, Sander canadensis
- Non-native, exotic species
- Yellow perch, Perca flavescens
- Walleye, Sander vitreus
Catfish
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae
- Native species
- Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus
Sturgeon
Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Acipenseridae
- Native species
- Pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus
- Shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
- White sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus
Burbot
Order: Gadiformes, Family: Gadidae
- Native species
- Burbot, Lota lota
Non-game fish
Bass, sunfish
Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae
- Non-native, exotic species
- Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus
- Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus
- Pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus
- Rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris
Perch
Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae
- Native species
- Iowa darter, Etheostoma exile
Temperate basses
Order: Perciformes, Family: Moronidae
- Non-native, exotic species
- White bass, Morone chrysops
Catfish
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae
- Native species
- Stonecat, Noturus flavus
- Non-native, exotic species
- Black bullhead, Ameiurus melas
- Yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis
Drum
Order: Perciformes, Family: Sciaenidae
- Native species
- Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens
Smelt
Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Osmeridae
- Non native, exotic species
- Rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax
Gars
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Order: Lepisosteiformes. Family: Lepisosteidae
- Native species
- Shortnose gar, Lepisosteus platostomus
Mooneyes
Order: Hiodontiformes, Family: Hiodontidae
- Native species
- Goldeye, Hiodon alosoides
Mollies
Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Poeciliidae
- Non-native, exotic species
- Green swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri
- Sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna
- Shortfin molly, Poecilia mexicana
- Variable platyfish, Xiphophorus variatus
- Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis
Killifish
Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Fundulidae
- Non-Native, exotic species
- Northern Plains killifish, Fundulus kansae
- Banded killifish, "Fundulus diaphanus"
Minnows
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Cyprinidae
- Native species
- Brassy minnow, Hybognathus hankinsoni
- Emerald shiner, Notropis atherinoides
- Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas
- Flathead chub, Platygobio gracilis
- Golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas
- Longnose dace, Rhinichthys cataractae
- Northern pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Salish: Qʷq̓é)
- Northern redbelly dace, Phoxinus eos
- Peamouth, Mylocheilus caurinus
- Allegheny pearl dace, Margariscus margarita
- Northern pearl dace, Margariscus nachtriebi
- Plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus
- Redside shiner, Richardsonius balteatus
- Sand shiner, Notropis stramineus
- Sicklefin chub, Macrhybopsis meeki
- Western silvery minnow, Hybognathus argyritis
- Sturgeon chub, Macrhybopsis gelida
- Lake chub, Couesius plumbeus
- Creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus
- Non-native, exotic species
- Goldfish, Carassius auratus
- Common carp, Cyprinus carpio
- Spottail shiner, Notropis hudsonius
- Utah chub, Gila atraria
Suckers
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Catostomidae
- Native species
- Bigmouth buffalo, Ictiobus cyprinellus
- Blue sucker, Cycleptus elongatus
- Largescale sucker, Catostomus macrocheilus
- Longnose sucker, Catostomus catostomus
- Mountain sucker, Catostomus platyrhynchus
- River carpsucker, Carpiodes carpio
- Shorthead redhorse, Moxostoma macrolepidotum
- Smallmouth buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus
- White sucker, Catostomus commersoni
Mudminnows
Order: Esociformes, Family: Umbridae
- Non-native, exotic species
- Central mudminnow, Umbra limi
Sculpins
Order: Scorpaeniformes, Family: Cottidae
- Native species
- Deepwater sculpin, Myoxocephalus thompsonii
- Mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi
- Slimy sculpin, Cottus cognatus
- Spoonhead sculpin, Cottus ricei
- Torrent sculpin, Cottus rhotheus
Sticklebacks
Order: Gasterosteiformes, Family: Gasterosteidae
- Native species
- Brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans
Trout-perch
Order: Percopsiformes, Family: Percopsidae
- Native species
- Trout-perch, Percopsis omiscomaycus
