Share your observations

Share your observations of plants or non-game animals with the Natural Heritage Inventory

Rare animals
Find rare and non-game animals.
Rare plants
Learn about plants on the Natural Heritage Working List.
Rare lichens
Discover Wisconsin's lichens.
Natural communities
Explore Wisconsin's natural communities.
Other features
Discover unique resources.
Eagle license plate

Help care for rare plants and animals by ordering an Endangered Resources plate.

Contact information
For information on Wisconsin's rare vertebrate animals, contact:
Rich Staffen
Conservation Biologist
608-266-4340
For information on Wisconsin's rare invertebrates, contact:
Jay Watson
Conservation Biologist
920-662-5161

Wisconsin's rare fishes

Fishes on Wisconsin's Natural Heritage Working List – last revised May 2016. Life history, where they are found in the state, photos and management information is available for many of these species. Please consider sharing your observations [exit DNR] with the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory

Click on the table headings to sort the table or sort taxonomically. Choose a species from the list to explore information for that animal. View the table key.
Scientific Name Common Name Global
Rank
State
Rank
Federal
Status
WI
Status
WWAP Mapped in NHI
Acipenser fulvescens Lake Sturgeon G3G4 S3 SC/H SGCN Y
Alosa chrysochloris Skipjack Herring G5 S1 END SGCN Y
Ammocrypta clara Western Sand Darter G3 S3S4 m-SIN N
Anguilla rostrata American Eel G4 S2 SC/N SGCN Y
Coregonus artedi Cisco G5 S4 m-SIN N
Coregonus zenithicus Shortjaw Cisco G3 S1 SOC SC/H SGCN Y
Crystallaria asprella Crystal Darter G3 S1 SOC END SGCN Y
Cycleptus elongatus Blue Sucker G3G4 S2 THR SGCN Y
Erimystax x-punctatus Gravel Chub G4 S1 END SGCN Y
Erimyzon sucetta Lake Chubsucker G5 S3 SC/N SGCN Y
Etheostoma asprigene Mud Darter G4 S3 SC/N SGCN Y
Etheostoma chlorosoma Bluntnose Darter G5 S1 END SGCN Y
Etheostoma microperca Least Darter G5 S3 SC/N SGCN Y
Fundulus diaphanus Banded Killifish G5 S3S4 m-SIN N
Fundulus dispar Starhead Topminnow G4 S2 END SGCN Y
Hiodon alosoides Goldeye G5 S2 END SGCN Y
Hybopsis amnis Pallid Shiner G4 S1 END SGCN Y
Ictiobus niger Black Buffalo G5 S2 THR SGCN Y
Lepomis megalotis Longear Sunfish G5 S2 THR SGCN Y
Luxilus chrysocephalus Striped Shiner G5 SH END SGCN Y
Lythrurus umbratilis Redfin Shiner G5 S2 THR SGCN Y
Macrhybopsis hyostoma Shoal Chub G5 S2 THR SGCN Y
Moxostoma carinatum River Redhorse G4 S2 THR SGCN Y
Moxostoma duquesnei Black Redhorse G5 S1 END SGCN Y
Notropis anogenus Pugnose Shiner G3 S2 THR SGCN Y
Notropis nubilus Ozark Minnow G5 S2 THR SGCN Y
Noturus exilis Slender Madtom G5 S1 END SGCN Y
Percina evides Gilt Darter G4 S2S3 THR SGCN Y
Polyodon spathula Paddlefish G4 S2 THR SGCN Y
Prosopium coulterii Pygmy Whitefish G5 S3S4 m-SIN N

Rank and status: To learn more about species rank and status, see the working list key. WWAP: (Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan): SGCN (Species of Greatest Conservation Need) and monitoring and ranking SIN (Species with Information Needs). Mapped in NHI: (Natural Heritage Inventory): Y = Observations of these species are mapped into the NHI database.

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Last revised: Thursday, December 22, 2022