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List of freshwater fishes of Oregon facts for kids

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Oregon is home to many different kinds of freshwater fish! This article will tell you about the fish species and subspecies that live in Oregon's rivers, lakes, and streams. Scientists and fish experts from places like the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) keep track of these amazing creatures.

There are 108 different types of fish on this list. About 33 of them are introduced species. This means they weren't originally from Oregon but were brought here by people. Some fish on the list are also anadromous. This is a fancy word for fish that live most of their lives in the ocean but swim up into freshwater rivers to lay their eggs. You might even find some fish that usually live in the ocean, like the starry flounder or Pacific herring, swimming in Oregon's fresh waters sometimes!

Fish Families of Oregon

Fish are grouped into families based on their shared characteristics. Let's explore some of the main fish families you can find in Oregon's fresh waters.

Lampreys: Ancient Fish Without Jaws

Lampreys are very unique fish. They don't have jaws like most fish do! Instead, they have a round, sucking mouth. They are some of the oldest types of fish on Earth.

  • Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus
  • River lamprey, Lampetra ayresi
  • Pit-Klamath brook lamprey, Lampetra lethophaga
  • Western brook lamprey, Lampetra richardsoni

Sturgeons: Big and Bony Fish

Sturgeons are known for being very large and having bony plates on their bodies instead of scales. They can live for a very long time!

  • Green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris
  • White sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus

Smelts: Small, Silvery Fish

Smelts are typically small, silvery fish. Some kinds of smelt are anadromous, meaning they spend time in both fresh and salt water.

  • Surf smelt, Hypomesus pretiosus
  • Longfin smelt, Spirinchus thaleichthys
  • Eulachon, Thaleichthys pacificus

Suckers: Bottom Feeders

Suckers get their name from their mouths, which are designed to suck up food from the bottom of rivers and lakes.

Minnows and Carps: A Diverse Group

This is a very large family of fish, including many common species. Some, like the common carp, are introduced species that have become very widespread.

Sunfish and Bass: Popular Sport Fish

Many fish in this family are popular for fishing, like bass and sunfish. Most of the sunfish and bass species found in Oregon are introduced.

Perches: Spiny-Finned Fish

Perches are known for their spiny fins. The yellow perch and walleye are examples of introduced perch species in Oregon.

Salmon and Trout: Iconic Oregon Fish

This family includes some of Oregon's most famous fish, like salmon and trout. Many of these are anadromous and are very important to Oregon's ecosystem and culture.

Sculpins: Bottom Dwellers

Sculpins are small, often camouflaged fish that live on the bottom of rivers and streams. They have large heads and spiny fins.

  • Coastrange sculpin, Cottus aleuticus
  • Prickly sculpin, Cottus asper
  • Mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi
  • Paiute sculpin, Cottus beldingi
  • Shorthead sculpin, Cottus confusus
  • Riffle sculpin, Cottus gulosus
  • Marbled sculpin, Cottus klamathensis
  • Margined sculpin, Cottus marginatus
  • Reticulate sculpin, Cottus perplexus
  • Pit sculpin, Cottus pitensis
  • Klamath Lake sculpin, Cottus princeps
  • Torrent sculpin, Cottus rhotheus
  • Slender sculpin, Cottus tenius
  • Pacific staghorn sculpin, Leptocottus armatus

Catfish: Whiskered Wonders

Catfish are easily recognized by the whisker-like feelers around their mouths, called barbels. Many catfish species in Oregon are introduced.

Other Interesting Fish Families

Oregon's fresh waters are home to even more unique fish families!

Killifish: Small and Hardy

Killifish are generally small fish that can live in a variety of water conditions.

Mosquitofish: Insect Eaters

Mosquitofish are known for eating mosquito larvae, which helps control mosquito populations.

Perch-like Fish: Diverse Group

This group includes fish like the shiner perch, which can sometimes be found in freshwater even though it's usually a marine fish.

  • Shiner perch, Cymatogaster aggregata
  • Striped bass*, Morone saxatilis
  • Saddleback gunnel, Pholis ornata

Sand Rollers: Unique Bottom Dwellers

The sand roller is a fascinating fish that often buries itself in the sand or gravel at the bottom of streams.

  • Sand roller, Percopsis transmontanus

Burbot: Freshwater Cod

The burbot is the only freshwater fish in the cod family. It's known for its long, eel-like body.

Sticklebacks: Spiny Defenders

Sticklebacks are small fish with sharp spines on their backs, which they use for defense.

Flounders: Flat Fish

While most flounders live in the ocean, the starry flounder is one of the few that can sometimes be found in freshwater. They are known for their flat bodies and eyes on one side of their head.

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