Fishes

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Lyons, et al. (2000) recently published an updated checklist, along with information on the occurrence, taxonomic status, distribution, and abundance of fishes in Wisconsin. We adapted that work and reproduce it here. Species-level taxonomy in the checklist follows that in the fifth edition of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada published by the American Fisheries Society (Robins, et al. 1991). This list will be updated soon and may include scientific name changes for several Wisconsin species to match names proposed by Mayden, et al. (1992). We show these likely changes in parentheses in the checklist. Higher level taxonomy (orders and families) follows Nelson (1994), with the exception of the Cottidae (sculpins) which are placed in the order Perciformes consistent with Mooi and Gill (1995). Species are listed alphabetically under each family. Hybrids are not included. Common names follow Robins, et al. (1991).

The final revision of the Wisconsin checklist contains 159 fish species in 27 families. One hundred forty-five are native to the state. Fourteen are introduced non-native species. No Wisconsin fishes are listed as endangered or threatened at the federal level. Ten fish species are listed as endangered at the state level and 11 species are considered threatened at the state level.

Excluded Fish Species

We exclude several fish species from our checklist. Lyons, et al. (2000) categorized 19 non-native fish species as "transient" because self-sustaining populations of these species have not been found within the state. These hypothetical species (Table 1) are excluded from our checklist, since they do not meet our criteria for inclusion.

Table 1. Transient non-native fish species excluded from the checklist

Scientific Name	Common Name
Alosa sapidissima	American Shad
Ctenopharyngodon idella	Grass Carp
Cyprinella lutrensis	Red Shiner
Epalzeorhynchus frenatum	Rainbow Sharkminnow
Scardinus erythrophthalmus	Rudd
Tinca tinca	Tench
Colossoma or Piaractus sp.	"Pacu" or "Pirapatinga"
Pygocentrus nattereri	"Red" Piranha
Ictalurus furcatus	Blue Catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus	Redtail Catfish
Oncorhynchus clarki	Cutthroat Trout
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha	Pink Salmon
Salmo salar	Atlantic Salmon
Thymallus arcticus	Arctic Grayling
Gambusia affinis	Western Mosquitofish
Poecilia reticulata	Guppy
Morone saxatilis	Striped Bass
Astronotus ocellatus	Oscar
Tilapia or Oreochromis sp.	"Tilapia"

In addition, Becker (1983) listed Longjaw Cisco (Coregonus alpenae) as occurring in the state. This species is now considered a synonym of the Shortjaw Cisco (Coregonus zenithicus) and is therefore excluded from the checklist.

Extinct Fish Species

In addition to the above listed species, we exclude the Deepwater Cisco (Coregonus johannae) and Shortnose Cisco (C. reighardi) from our list. Both species occurred in Lake Michigan, but are now believed to be extinct (Page and Burr 1991, Robins, et al. 1991, Coon 1999).

The Wisconsin Ichthyological Literature

The literature dealing with the life history, ecology, distribution, status and biology of Wisconsin fishes is extensive. Material has been published in a variety of ichthyology, ecology, zoology and fisheries management periodicals, as well as in numerous government reports. Most significant older works are included in the bibliography in Dr. George Becker’s (1983) Fishes of Wisconsin. However, there has been no published bibliography of works dealing with Wisconsin fishes since Becker’s work. Such a tool would be useful to professional fisheries managers, biologists, anglers and others interested in Wisconsin fishes. A considerable amount of biological information is also contained in unpublished agency records and files. Dr. John Lyons and colleagues have initiated work to update and rewrite Fishes of Wisconsin (J. Lyons, pers. comm.), and that work will likely bring the bibliography up to date.

Fish Survey and Atlas Efforts

In the mid-1970s, a research effort was initiated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to systematically sample the distribution and relative abundances of fishes throughout the inland waters of Wisconsin. The study focused primarily on a survey of then current fish distribution, but also synthesized historical distribution records where these were available (Fago 1992). Reduced funding terminated the study in the 1980s before the entire state could be surveyed. Findings from the initial work are summarized in Fago (1992) and a number of previous basin-specific reports referenced therein. Voucher specimens from this study are maintained in the Milwaukee Public Museum’s vertebrate zoology collection. No systematic statewide inventory has occurred since the Fish Distribution Survey was terminated. However, many additional fisheries studies have been carried out, including studies of entire fish communities in certain habitat types and detailed surveys of all habitats within specific regions. Lyons, et al. (2000) identify these more recent studies. Systematic statewide surveys for specific species (e.g., several lampreys, minnows, suckers, and darters; Paddlefish; Slender Madtom; Slimy Sculpin; and Longear Sunfish) have also been conducted (J. Lyons, pers. comm.).

Fish Species List