Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Esociformes (Pikes and mudminnows) > Esocidae (Pikes)
Etymology: Esox: From Greek, isox and also related with the Celtic root, eog, ehawc = salmon (Ref. 45335); masquinongy: Stemmed from an Ojibwa (Chippewa) Indian name for this fish (Ref. 10294).
More on author: Mitchill.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; non-migratory. Temperate; 53°N - 30°N

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

North America: Native to St. Lawrence River - Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins. Introduced elsewhere in the USA. Native populations are protected in portions of Tennessee and Ohio.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 77.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 183 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 95.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 31.8 kg (Ref. 3549); max. reported age: 30 years (Ref. 26373)

Lives in clear vegetated lakes, quiet pools and backwaters of creeks and small to large rivers (Ref. 205, 10294). Solitary, lurking hunter on other fishes as well as on ducklings, muskrats, and snakes. Oviparous, spawn in spring as the ice melts (Ref. 205).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Some experts believe that some form of copulation happens during breeding of this species. The female turns on her side to expose her abdomen to the male who then swims against her in a forceful movement. Aftewards, the female takes a rest and deposits her eggs in the sand. This whole activity is presumably repeated one more time (Ref. 205). Other experts believe otherwise, that only a simple and simultaneous discharge of gametes happens during breeding (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Crossman, E.J., 1996. Taxonomy and distribution. p. 1-11. In J.F. Craig (ed.) Pike biology and exploration. Chapman and Hall, London. 298 p. (Ref. 26373)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 01 December 2011

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Internet sources

Esox masquinongy Mitchill, 1824