Pikeminnows, formerly squawfish, are

cyprinid Cyprinidae is a family of freshwater fish commonly called the carp or minnow family. It includes the carps, the true minnows, and relatives like the barbs and barbels. Cyprinidae is the largest and most diverse fish family and the largest vert ...

fish Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of liv ...

of the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial no ...

''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 Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', ''Salmo'' and '' Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salmo ...

and

salmon Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus ''Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Oncorhync ...

. 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 "

squaw The English word ''squaw'' is an ethnic and sexual slur, historically used for Indigenous North American women. Contemporary use of the term, especially by non-Natives, is considered derogatory, misogynist, and racist.King, C. Richard,De/Scrib ...

fish" offensive. The

Colorado pikeminnow The Colorado pikeminnow (''Ptychocheilus lucius'', formerly squawfish) is the largest cyprinid fish of North America and one of the largest in the world, with reports of individuals up to 6 ft (1.8 m) long and weighing over 100 p ...

, ''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 Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

. 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!Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery Program
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Species

The four recognized species are: * ''

Ptychocheilus grandis The Sacramento pikeminnow (''Ptychocheilus grandis''), formerly known as the Sacramento squawfish, is a large cyprinid fish of California, United States. It is native to the Los Angeles River, Sacramento- San Joaquin, Pajaro- Salinas, Russian R ...

'' ( Ayres, 1854) (Sacramento pikeminnow) * ''

Ptychocheilus lucius The Colorado pikeminnow (''Ptychocheilus lucius'', formerly squawfish) is the largest cyprinid fish of North America and one of the largest in the world, with reports of individuals up to 6 ft (1.8 m) long and weighing over 100 p ...

'' Girard, 1856 (Colorado pikeminnow) * ''

Ptychocheilus oregonensis The Northern pikeminnow, Columbia River dace or formerly Squawfish (''Ptychocheilus oregonensis'') is a large member of the minnow family, Leuciscidae. This predatory freshwater fish is native to northwestern North America, ranging from the Nass ...

'' ( J. Richardson, 1836) (Northern pikeminnow) * ''

Ptychocheilus umpquae The Umpqua pikeminnow (''Ptychocheilus umpquae'') is a large cyprinid fish endemic to Oregon. It is native to the Umpqua and Siuslaw river drainages. Description The Umpqua pikeminnow usually has 60 to 63 scales between the head and dorsal f ...

'' Snyder, 1908 (Umpqua pikeminnow)

References

{{Leuciscinae-stub