Country Species Summary

Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758
Family:	Esocidae (Pikes)	picture (Esluc_u9.jpg) by Zienert, S.
Order:	Esociformes (pikes and mudminnows)
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:	Northern pike
Max. size:	137 cm FL (male/unsexed; Ref. 40637); 150 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 28.4 kg (Ref. 40637); max. published weight: 35 kg; max. reported age: 30 years
Environment:	demersal; potamodromous ; depth range 0 - 30 m
Climate:	subtropical; 10 - 28°C; 74°N - 36°N
Global Importance:	fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience:	Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.12-0.23; tm=1-4; tmax=30; Fec=2,000-600,000)
Distribution:	Circumpolar in fresh water. North America: Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific, Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from Labrador to Alaska and south to Pennsylvania, Missouri and Nebraska, USA. Eurasia: France to eastern Siberia, south to northern Italy. Absent from northern Scotland. Introduced into other countries. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 6-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-25; Anal spines: 4-7; Anal soft rays: 10-22; Vertebrae: 57-65. Distinguished by its long, flat, 'duck-bill' snout; its large mouth with many large, sharp teeth; and the rearward position of its dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 27547). Gill rakers present only as patches of sharp teeth on gill arches; lateral line notched posteriorly (Ref. 27547). Dorsal located far to the rear; anal located under and arising a little behind dorsal; pectorals low on body, base under opercle; pelvic fins low on body; paired fins rounded, paddle-shaped (Ref. 27547). Caudal fin with 19 rays (Ref. 2196).
Biology:	Occurs in clear vegetated lakes, quiet pools and backwaters of creeks and small to large rivers (Ref. 5723). Usually solitary and highly territorial. Enters brackish water in the Baltic. Adults feed mainly on fishes, but at times feed heavily on frogs and crayfish (Ref. 27547). Cannibalistic as juveniles (Ref. 30578). Eggs and young are preyed upon by fishes, aquatic insect larvae, birds, and aquatic mammals (Ref. 1998). Does not generally undertake long migrations, but a few may move considerable distances (Ref. 27547). Oviparous (Ref. 205). This fish can be heavily infested with parasites, including the broad tapeworm which, if not killed by thorough cooking, can infect human; is used as an intermediate host by a cestode parasite which results to large losses in usable catches of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in some areas; also suffers from a trematode which causes unsightly cysts on the skin (Ref. 9988). Excellent food fish; utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled, and baked (Ref. 9988). Valuable game fish (Ref. 5723). In spite of numerous attempts to culture this species, it was never entirely domesticated and does not accept artificial food (Ref. 30578)
Threatened:	, (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:	potential pest
Coordinator:
Main Ref:	Crossman, E.J.. 1996. (Ref. 26373)
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Armenia country information
Common names:	[ No common name ]	Ref:
Status:	native	Ref:
Salinity:	freshwater
Uses:	no uses
Country Information:	www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/am.html
Occurrences:	Occurrences Point map
Main Ref:	Blanc, M., J.-L. Gaudet, P. Banarescu and J.-C. Hureau, 1971
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Modified: Froese, Rainer

Entered: Reyes, Rodolfo B.

CGNET - US

Page created by: Eli, 20.10.03, last modified by Eli, 26.06.07

	Ref.:		Glossary
		(e.g. 9948)		(e.g. cephalopods)
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