Northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) is a freshwater species recorded in the United States.
Scientific name: Ptychocheilus oregonensis · Water: Freshwater
Size: up to 63 cm
The northern pikeminnow is a benthopelagic leuciscid found in lakes and pools and occasionally in the runs of small to large rivers, with large individuals occurring in deep water. They feed on fishes, terrestrial insects, plankton, aquatic insect larvae and crustaceans while inshore, and on fishes while offshore; the eggs are preyed upon by male squawfish, prickly sculpins and newts. It is edible but not well appreciated. Maximum length is about 63 cm total length, commonly about 22 cm, and it can live 11 years. It is a commercial species, a gamefish and a public aquarium fish. Fishing vulnerability is moderate to high at 50 of 100 and resilience low. IUCN lists it as least concern.
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