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 speciesâ€"the candy darter and diamond darterâ€"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 CR, one as endangered EN, five as vulnerable VU, and three as near-threatened NT.
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, VU IUCN
Family Polyodontidae (paddlefishes)
- American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) O, rare, VU IUCN
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, EN IUCN
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, VU IUCN
- 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, NT IUCN
- 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, VU IUCN
- Diamond darter (Crystallaria cincotta) O, rare, CR IUCN
- 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, VU IUCN
- Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) O,N,J
- Tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) P
- Candy darter (Etheostoma osburni) N, rare, NT IUCN
- Snubnose darter (Etheostoma simoterum) N
- Tippecanoe darter (Etheostoma tippecanoe) O, NT IUCN
- 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
See also
- West Virginia State Wildlife Center, a small zoo featuring native West Virginia animals
- Fauna of West Virginia
- List of West Virginia wildlife management areas
References
