Superregnum : Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Otomorpha
Subcohors: Ostariophysi
Sectio: Otophysa
Ordo: Cypriniformes
Superfamilia: Cyprinoidea
Familia: Cyprinidae
Subfamilia: Leuciscinae
Genus: Ptychocheilus
Species: P. grandis – P. lucius – P. oregonensis – P. umpquae
Name
Ptychocheilus Agassiz, 1855
Pikeminnows, formerly squawfish, are cyprinid fish of the genus Ptychocheilus consisting of four species native to western North America. Voracious predators, they are considered an "undesirable" species in many waters, largely due to the species' perceived tendency to prey upon small trout and salmon. First known in western science by the common name Columbia River dace, the four species all became lumped under the offensive name "squawfish". In 1999, the American Fisheries Society adopted "pikeminnow" as the name it recommends, because Native Americans considered "squawfish" offensive.[1]
The Colorado pikeminnow, P. lucius, is the largest member of the genus, ranging from 4 to 9 lb (2 to 4 kg) in adult fish with occasional specimens up to 25 lb (11 kg). Historical and anecdotal reports of Colorado pikeminnows nearing 6 feet (1.8 m) in length and 80 lb (36 kg) in weight have been made. The species is near extinction in its native Colorado River Basin habitat, due to extensive habitat destruction.
Anglers are paid for each Northern Pikeminnow that they catch (from within program boundaries) that is 9 inches or larger in total length, and the more you catch, the higher the reward. Rewards begin at $5 each for the first 25 Northern Pikeminnow caught during the season. Anglers are paid $6 for each fish they catch from 26-200, and $8 for every fish caught over 200 cumulatively. Anglers are also paid $500 for each specially tagged Northern Pikeminnow![2]
Species
The four recognized species are:[3]
Ptychocheilus grandis (Ayres, 1854) (Sacramento pikeminnow)
Ptychocheilus lucius Girard, 1856 (Colorado pikeminnow)
Ptychocheilus oregonensis (J. Richardson, 1836) (northern pikeminnow)
Ptychocheilus umpquae Snyder, 1908 (Umpqua pikeminnow)
References
Nelson, J.S., E.J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C.R. Gilbert, R.N. Lea, and J.D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 p.
Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery Program
Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2018). Species of Ptychocheilus in FishBase. May 2018 version.
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