kids encyclopedia robot

List of fishes of Wyoming facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Wyoming is a state in the western United States that doesn't touch the ocean. Even though it's landlocked, it has many different kinds of freshwater fish living in its lakes, rivers, and streams. These fish are an important part of Wyoming's natural world, and many people enjoy fishing for them!

Trout and Salmon in Wyoming

Wyoming is famous for its amazing trout fishing. Many types of trout and salmon live in the state's cool, clear waters. Some are native, meaning they've always been here, while others were brought in from other places.

  • Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki): This is Wyoming's only native trout! It's named for the red or orange slash marks under its jaw.
Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri 1904
A beautiful Cutthroat trout.
  • Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): These colorful fish are very popular with anglers. They were brought to Wyoming from the Pacific Coast.
Rainbow Trout
A vibrant Rainbow trout.
  • Brown trout (Salmo trutta): Originally from Europe, Brown trout are known for being a bit tricky to catch, which makes them a fun challenge for fishers.
Brown trout FWS white background
A Brown trout, often found in rivers.
  • Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis): These smaller, colorful trout were brought from the eastern United States. They often live in colder, smaller streams.
Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis 2900px
A colorful Brook trout.
  • Lake trout or mackinaw (Salvelinus namaycush): These are the largest trout in Wyoming and can be found in deep, cold lakes.
Lake trout fish in hands salvelinus namaycush
A large Lake trout.
  • Mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni): This fish is related to trout and salmon and is native to Wyoming's mountain streams.
FMIB 34153 Mountain Whitefish (Coregonus williamsoni, var cismontanus)
A Mountain whitefish.
  • Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka): These are a landlocked type of Sockeye salmon, meaning they live their whole lives in freshwater lakes.
Kokanee salmon
A bright red Kokanee salmon.
  • Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus): Known for their large, sail-like dorsal fin, Arctic grayling are native to some of Wyoming's colder waters.
Arctic Grayling Thymallus arcticus arcticus
An Arctic grayling with its unique fin.

Other Native Fish of Wyoming

Besides trout, many other fish species are native to Wyoming's waters. They play important roles in the ecosystem.

  • Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas): This is a type of catfish that can live in many different kinds of water, even those with less oxygen.
Black bullhead fish
A Black bullhead.
  • Burbot (Lota lota): Also called "freshwater cod," Burbot are unique fish that prefer cold water and are active at night.
Burbot
A Burbot, sometimes called a freshwater cod.
  • Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus): These popular sport fish are known for their whiskers, called "barbels," which help them find food.
Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
A Channel catfish.
  • Longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae): These small fish are common in fast-flowing streams and have a long snout.
Longnose dace
A Longnose dace.
  • Mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii): Sculpins are small, bottom-dwelling fish that blend in with rocks and gravel.
Cottus bairdii
A Mottled sculpin.
  • Shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus): This ancient-looking fish has a flattened, shovel-like snout and bony plates on its body. It's the smallest sturgeon in North America.
Shovelnose sturgeon
A Shovelnose sturgeon.
  • White sucker (Catostomus commersoni): Suckers are named for their fleshy lips, which they use to suck up food from the bottom of rivers and lakes.
White Sucker (47383259832)
A White sucker.

Fish from Other Places

Many fish species have been introduced to Wyoming over the years. This means they were brought here by people, often for fishing or to control other fish populations.

  • Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus): These panfish are popular for their tasty meat and are often found in lakes and slow-moving rivers.
Black Crappie
A Black crappie.
  • Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus): Bluegill are small, round fish that are very common and fun for young anglers to catch.
Lepomis macrochirus
A colorful Bluegill.
  • Common carp (Cyprinus carpio): Originally from Asia, Common carp are large, hardy fish that can live in many different environments.
Common carp
A large Common carp.
  • Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): Known for their big mouths, these are popular sport fish that eat smaller fish and insects.
Largemouth-bass
A Largemouth bass.
  • Northern pike (Esox lucius): These long, slender fish are top predators in the waters where they live, known for their sharp teeth.
Northern pike (32366485647)
A Northern pike.
  • Walleye (Sander vitreum): Walleye are popular for their excellent taste and are often found in larger lakes and rivers.
Walleye painting
A Walleye.
  • Yellow perch (Perca flavescens): These striped fish are common and often caught for food.
Yellow perch fish perca flavescens
A Yellow perch.

Images for kids

  • Bigmouth shiner

    A Bigmouth shiner.

  • FMIB 34318 Catostomus discobolus Cope Sucker

    A Bluehead sucker.

  • Burbot

    A Burbot.

  • Central stoneroller

    A Central stoneroller.

  • Common shiner

    A Common shiner.

  • Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

    A Creek chub.

  • Pimephales promelas

    A Fathead minnow.

  • FMIB 39010 Bronze minnow (Phosinus neogaeus)

    A Finescale dace.

  • FMIB 51129 Horny Head or River Chub

    A Hornyhead chub.

  • Etheostoma exile - Iowa Darter

    An Iowa darter.

  • FMIB 51449 Johnny Darter Boleosoma nigrum

    A Johnny darter.

  • Couesius plumbeus

    A Lake chub.

  • Northern Leatherside Chub (5764989619)

    A Leatherside chub.

  • FMIB 35064 Longnose Sucker

    A Longnose sucker.

  • MountainSuckerYNP

    A Mountain sucker.

  • Orangethroat darter male

    An Orangethroat darter.

  • Pearl dace

    A Pearl dace.

  • Plains Topminnow - Fundulus sciadicus

    A Plains topminnow.

  • Carpiodes cyprinus (S0313) (12599878075)

    A Quillback.

  • Red shiner

    A Red shiner.

  • FMIB 39776 Leuciscus siuslawi Evermann & Meek, new species

    A Redside shiner.

  • River carpsucker fish carpoides carpio (2)

    A River carpsucker.

  • Notropis stramineus

    A Sand shiner.

  • FMIB 43010 Sauger or Sand Pike (Stizostedium canadense)

    A Sauger.

  • Moxostoma macrolepidotum

    A Shorthead redhorse.

  • Rhinichthys osculus

    A Speckled dace.

  • Noturus flavus

    A Stonecat.

  • Sturgeon chub

    A Sturgeon chub.

  • Suckermouth minnow

    A Suckermouth minnow.

  • FMIB 34247 Utah Chub (Leuciscus atrarius)

    A Utah chub.

  • FMIB 34240 Red Horse Sucker (Catostomus ardens)

    A Utah sucker.

  • Black Crappie

    A Black crappie.

  • Emerald shiner 01

    An Emerald shiner.

  • Aplodinotus grunniens

    A Freshwater drum.

  • FMIB 51110 Mud Shad or Gizzard Shad

    A Gizzard shad.

  • Golden shiner fish notemigonus crysoleucas

    A Golden shiner.

  • Common goldfish

    A Goldfish.

  • Grass-Carp1web

    A Grass carp.

  • Lepomis cyanellus Raver

    A Green sunfish.

  • Xiphophorus helleri (aka)

    A Green swordtail.

  • Guppy Poecilia reticulata

    A Guppy.

  • Ohrid Trout (Salmo letnica)

    An Ohrid trout.

  • Young pumpkinseed sunfish

    A Pumpkinseed.

  • Rock Bass

    A Rock bass.

  • Smallmouth bass

    A Smallmouth bass.

  • Notropis hudsonius

    A Spottail shiner.

  • Gambusia affinis 01

    A Western mosquitofish.

  • White crappie

    A White crappie.

  • Salvelinus alpinus

    An Arctic char.

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of fishes of Wyoming Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.