List of fishes of West Virginia facts for kids

The state of West Virginia has a wide variety of freshwater fish species in its rivers, lakes, and streams. 20% of these species are sportfish, and the remaining 80% are nongame species. Two species—the candy darter and diamond darter—are endemic to West Virginia.

The taxa

The following letters indicate the river systems that contain each species:

In addition, the IUCN classifies one of these species as critically endangered , one as endangered , five as vulnerable , and three as near-threatened .

Order Petromyzontiformes (lampreys)

Family Petromyzontidae (northern lampreys)

• Ohio lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium) O, rare
• Northern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor) O, rare
• Mountain brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon greeleyi) O, rare
• Silver lamprey (Ichthyomyzon unicuspis) O, rare
• Least brook lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera) O,N
• American brook lamprey (Lethenteron appendix) O, rare

Order Acipenseriformes (sturgeons and paddlefish)

Family Acipenseridae (sturgeons)

• Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) O, extinct in West Virginia
• Shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) O,

Family Polyodontidae (paddlefishes)

• American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) O, rare,

Order Lepisosteiformes (gars)

Family Lepisosteidae (gars)

• Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) O

Order Amiiformes (bowfin)

Family Amiidae (bowfin)

• Bowfin (Amia calva) O, rare

Order Hiodontiformes (mooneyes)

Family Hiodontidae (mooneyes)

• Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) O, rare
• Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus) O

Order Anguilliformes (eels)

Family Anguillidae (freshwater eels)

• American eel (Anguilla rostrata) O,N,P,

Order Clupeiformes (herrings and relatives)

Family Clupeidae (herrings, shads, and relatives)

• Skipjack shad (Alosa chrysochloris) O
• Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) O,N,P
• American gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) O
• Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) O

Order Cypriniformes (carps, minnows, and relatives)

Family Cyprinidae (carps, true minnows, and relatives)

• Central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) O,N,P,J
• Goldfish (Carassius auratus) O,N,P, introduced
• Redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus) O, rare
• Rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides) O,N,P,J
• Satinfin shiner (Cyprinella analostana) P, rare
• Whitetail shiner (Cyprinella galactura) O,N
• Spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera) O,N,P
• Steelcolor shiner (Cyprinella whipplei) O
• Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) O,N,P, introduced,
• Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) O,N,P
• Bighead carp (Hypopthalmichthys nobilis) O
• Streamline chub (Erimystax dissimilis) O,N
• Tonguetied minnow (Exoglossum laurae) O,N, rare
• Cutlips minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua) N,P,J
• Eastern silvery minnow (Hybognathus regius) P, rare
• Mississippi silvery minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) O, extinct in West Virginia
• Bigeye chub (Hybopsis amblops) O
• White shiner (Luxilus albeolus) O,N
• Striped shiner (Luxilus chrysocephalus) O,N,P
• Common shiner (Luxilus cornutus) O,P,J
• Rosefin shiner (Lythrurus ardens) J, rare
• Scarlet shiner (Lythrurus fasciolaris) O, rare
• Redfin shiner (Lythrurus umbratilis) O
• Shoal chub (Macrhybopsis hyostoma) O
• Silver chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana) O
• Pearl dace (Margariscus margarita) O,P, rare
• Hornyhead chub (Nocomis biguttatus) O, extinct in West Virginia
• Bluehead chub (Nocomis leptocephalus) N,P,J
• River chub (Nocomis micropogon) O,P,J
• Big mouth chub (Nocomis platyrhynchus) N
• Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) O,N,P,J
• Comely shiner (Notropis amoenus) P
• Popeye shiner (Notropis ariommus) O, rare
• Emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides) O,N,P
• River shiner (Notropis blennius) O
• Bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) O, rare
• Ghost shiner (Notropis buchanani) O
• Bigmouth shiner (Notropis dorsalis) O, extinct in West Virginia
• Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) O,N,P
• Sand shiner (Notropis stramineus) O,N
• Silver shiner (Notropis photogenis) O,N
• Swallowtail shiner (Notropis procne) P
• Rosyface shiner (Notropis rubellus) O,N,P,J
• New River shiner (Notropis scabriceps) N, rare
• Telescope shiner (Notropis telescopus) O,N,J
• Mimic shiner (Notropis volucellus) O,N,P
• Channel shiner (Notropis wickliffi) O
• Silverjaw minnow (Ericymba buccata) O,N,P
• Pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) O, extinct in West Virginia
• Suckermouth minnow (Phenacobius mirabilis) O
• Kanawha minnow (Phenacobius teretulus) N, rare
• Southern redbelly dace (Chrosomus erythrogaster) O
• Mountain redbelly dace (Chrosomus oreas) O,N,J
• Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus) O,N,P
• Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) O,N,P
• Bullhead minnow (Pimephales vigilax) O, rare
• Eastern blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) O,P,J
• Western blacknose dace (Rhinichthys obtusus) O,N
• Cheat minnow (Pararhinichthys bowersi) O, rare
• Longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) O,N,P,J
• Common rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) N
• Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) O,N,P,J
• Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) P

Family Catostomidae (suckers)

• River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) O
• Quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus) O
• Highfin carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer) O, rare
• Longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus) O, extinct in West Virginia
• White sucker (Catostomus commersonii) O,N,P,J
• Blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) O, rare
• Creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus) P
• Northern hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans) O,N,P,J
• Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) O
• Bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) O, rare
• Black buffalo (Ictiobus niger) O, rare
• Spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops) O
• Silver redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum) O
• River redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum) O
• Black redhorse (Moxostoma duquesnei) O
• Golden redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum) O,N,P
• Smallmouth redhorse (Moxostoma breviceps) O
• Shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum) P, rare
• Torrent sucker (Thoburnia rhothoeca) N,P

Order Siluriformes (catfishes)

Family Ictaluridae (ictalurid catfishes)

• White bullhead (Ameiurus catus) O
• Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) O,N
• Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) O,N,P
• Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) O,N,P
• Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) O
• Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) O,N,P
• Mountain madtom (Noturus eleutherus) O, rare
• Stonecat (Noturus flavus) O,N
• Margined madtom (Noturus insignis) O,N,P,J
• Brindled madtom (Noturus miurus) O
• Northern madtom (Noturus stigmosus) O, rare,
• Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) O,N

Order Esociformes (pikes and mudminnows)

Family Esocidae (pikes)

• Redfin pickerel (Esox a. americanus) O,P, rare
• Grass pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) O, rare
• Northern pike (Esox lucius) O,P
• Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) O,N,P
• Tiger muskellunge (Esox masquinongy x lucius) O,N,P
• Chain pickerel (Esox niger) O,N,P

Family Umbridae (mudminnows)

• Central mudminnow (Umbra limi) O

Order Salmoniformes (trout)

Family Salmonidae (trout)

• Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) P, introduced
• Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) O,N,P,J, introduced
• Brown trout (Salmo trutta) O,N,J,P, introduced
• Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) O,N,J,P

Order Percopsiformes (trout-perch)

Family Percopsidae (trout-perch)

• Trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus) O

Order Cyprinodontiformes (toothcarps)

Family Fundulidae (topminnows)

• Northern studfish (Fundulus catenatus) O
• Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) O,P, rare
• Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) P

Family Poeciliidae (livebearers)

• Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) O,N,P

Order Atheriniformes (silversides)

Family Atherinopsidae (neotropical silversides)

• Brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus) O,N,P

Order Gasterosteiformes (sticklebacks)

Family Gasterosteidae (sticklebacks)

• Brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) O

Order Scorpaeniformes (mail-cheeked fishes)

Family Cottidae (sculpins)

• Mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii) O,N,J
• Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) P,J
• Slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) P, rare
• Potomac sculpin (Cottus girardi) P
• Kanawha sculpin (Cottus kanawhae) N, rare
• Bluestone sculpin (Cottus sp.) N

Order Perciformes (sunfishes and perches)

Family Moronidae (temperate basses)

• White perch (Morone americana) O
• White bass (Morone chrysops) O,N
• Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) O,N
• Hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x saxatilis) O

Family Centrarchidae (sunfishes)

• Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) O,N,J,P
• Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) O,N,J,P
• Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) O,N,J,P
• Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) O,N,J,P
• Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) O,P
• Orangespotted sunfish (Lepomis humilis) O
• Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) O,N,J,P
• Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) O,N,P
• Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) O
• Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) O,N,J,P
• Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) O,N
• Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) O,N,J,P
• White crappie (Pomoxis annularis) O,N,P
• Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) O,N,P

Family Percidae (perches, darters, and relatives)

• Eastern sand darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) O
• Western sand darter (Ammocrypta clara) O, rare,
• Diamond darter (Crystallaria cincotta) O, rare,
• Greenside darter (Etheostoma blennioides) O,N,P
• Rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) O,N,P
• Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) O
• Fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare) O,N,P,J
• Longfin darter (Etheostoma longimanum) J, rare
• Spotted darter (Etheostoma maculatum) O, rare,
• Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) O,N,J
• Tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) P
• Candy darter (Etheostoma osburni) N, rare,
• Snubnose darter (Etheostoma simoterum) N
• Tippecanoe darter (Etheostoma tippecanoe) O,
• Variegate darter (Etheostoma variatum) O,N
• Banded darter (Etheostoma zonale) O
• Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) O,N,P
• Common logperch (Percina caprodes) O,N
• Channel darter (Percina copelandi) O
• Gilt darter (Percina evides) O, rare
• Appalachia darter (Percina gymnocephala) N, rare
• Longhead darter (Percina macrocephala) O, rare
• Blackside darter (Percina maculata) O,N
• Stripeback darter (Percina notogramma) J, rare
• Sharpnose darter (Percina oxyrhynchus) O,N
• Shield darter (Percina peltata) P
• Slenderhead darter (Percina phoxocephala) O
• Roanoke darter (Percina roanoka) N
• Dusky darter (Percina sciera) O
• River darter (Percina shumardi) O, rare
• Sauger (Sander canadensis) O
• Walleye (Sander vitreus) O,N,P
• Saugeye (Sander canadensis x vitreus) O

Family Sciaenidae (drums)

• Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) O