List of fishes of Washington state
Washington state has a large diversity of marine and freshwater fish found in its waters. the following is a list of species, both native and introduced.
Native Species
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Class Petromyzonti (Lampreys)
[edit]Family Petromyzontidae (Northern Lampreys)
[edit]- Genus Entosphenus
- Entosphenus tridentatus (Pacific Lamprey)
- Genus Lampetra
- Lampetra ayresii (Western River Lamprey)
- Lampetra richardsoni (Western Brook Lamprey)
Class Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)
[edit]Family Rajidae (Skates)
[edit]- Genus Beringraja
- Beringraja binoculata (Big Skate)
- Genus Raja
- Raja stellulata (Pacific Starry Skate)
Family Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks)
[edit]- Genus Squalus
- Squalus suckleyi (Pacific Spiny Dogfish)
Family Carcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)
[edit]- Genus Prionace
- Prionace glauca (Blue Shark)
- Genus Carcharhinus
- Carcharhinus obscurus (Dusky Shark) — Uncommon visitor
Family Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks)
[edit]- Genus Lamna
- Lamna ditropis (Salmon Shark)
- Genus Carcharodon
- Carcharodon carcharias (White Shark) — Rare seasonal visitor
- Genus Cetorhinus
- Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) — Seasonal visitor
Family Alopiidae (Thresher Sharks)
[edit]- Genus Alopias
- Alopias vulpinus (Common Thresher Shark)
Family Hexanchidae (Cow Sharks)
[edit]- Genus Notorynchus
- Genus Hexanchus
- Notorynchus cepedianus (Broadnose Sevengill Shark)
- Hexanchus griseus (Bluntnose Sixgill Shark)
Family Chimaeridae (Shortnose Chimaeras)
[edit]- Genus Hydrolagus
- Hydrolagus colliei (Spotted Ratfish)
Class Actinopterygii (Ray-Finned Fishes)
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Family Acipenseridae (Sturgeons)
[edit]- Genus Acipenser
- Acipenser medirostris (Green Sturgeon)
- Acipenser transmontanus (White Sturgeon)
Family Clupeidae (Herrings, Shads, and Sardines)
[edit]- Genus Alosa
- Alosa sapidissima (American Shad)
- Genus Clupea
- Clupea pallasii (Pacific Herring)
Family Salmonidae (Salmon, Trout, Chars, and Whitefish)
[edit]- Genus Oncorhynchus
- Oncorhynchus clarkii (Cutthroat Trout)
- Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Pink Salmon)
- Oncorhynchus keta (Chum Salmon)
- Oncorhynchus kisutch (Coho Salmon)
The Steelhead Trout is washington's state fish - Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow Trout / Steelhead)
Sockeye Salmon - Oncorhynchus nerka (Sockeye Salmon / Kokanee)
- Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Chinook Salmon)
- Genus Salvelinus
- Salvelinus confluentus (Bull Trout)
Dolly Varden Trout
- Genus Prosopium
- Prosopium cylindraceum (Mountain Whitefish)
- Genus Coregonus
- Coregonus clupeaformis (Lake Whitefish)
- Coregonus zenithicus (Shortjaw Cisco)
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Family Osmeridae (Smelts)
[edit]- Genus Hypomesus
- Hypomesus pretiosus (Surf Smelt)
- Hypomesus transpacificus (Longfin Smelt)
- Genus Spirinchus
- Spirinchus thaleichthys (Longfin Smelt)
- Genus Thaleichthys
- Thaleichthys pacificus (Eulachon)
Family Umbridae (Mudminnows)
[edit]- Genus Novumbra
Olympic Mudminnow, Washington's only endemic freshwater fish
Family Esocidae (Pikes)
[edit]- Genus Esox
- Esox lucius (Northern Pike) — Introduced
Family Cyprinidae (Carps and Minnows)
[edit]- Genus Acrocheilus
- Acrocheilus alutaceus (Chiselmouth)
- Genus Mylocheilus
- Mylocheilus caurinus (Peamouth)
- Genus Ptychocheilus
- Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Northern Pikeminnow)
- Genus Richardsonius
- Richardsonius balteatus (Redside Shiner)
- Genus Rhinichthys
- Rhinichthys cataractae (Longnose Dace)
- Rhinichthys osculus (Speckled Dace)
Family Catostomidae (Suckers)
[edit]- Genus Catostomus
Longnose Sucker - Catostomus columbianus (Bridgelip Sucker)
- Catostomus macrocheilus (Largescale Sucker)
- Catostomus platyrhynchus (Mountain Sucker)
Family Gadidae (Cods)
[edit]- Genus Microgadus
Pacific cod
- Genus Gadus
- Gadus macrocephalus (Pacific Cod)
Family Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks)
[edit]- Genus Gasterosteus
Ninespine Stickleback
- Genus Pungitius
- Pungitius pungitius (Ninespine Stickleback)
Family Cottidae (Sculpins)
[edit]- Genus Cottus
- Cottus aleuticus (Coastrange Sculpin)
- Cottus asper (Prickly Sculpin)
- Cottus cognatus (Slimy Sculpin)
- Cottus confusus (Shorthead Sculpin)
- Cottus perifretum (Riffle Sculpin)
- Cottus rhotheus (Torrent Sculpin)
- Genus Oligocottus
- Oligocottus maculosus (Mosshead Sculpin)
- Genus Scorpaenichthys
- Scorpaenichthys marmoratus (Cabezon)
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Family Embiotocidae (Surfperches)
[edit]- Genus Cymatogaster
- Cymatogaster aggregata (Shiner Perch)
- Genus Embiotoca
- Embiotoca lateralis (Striped Seaperch)
- Genus Phanerodon
- Phanerodon furcatus (White Seaperch)
- Genus Rhacochilus
- Rhacochilus vacca (Pile Perch)
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Family Percopsidae (Trout-Perch)
[edit]- Genus Percopsis
- Percopsis omiscomaycus (Trout-Perch)
Family Anoplopomatidae (Sablefishes)
[edit]- Genus Anoplopoma
- Anoplopoma fimbria (Sablefish)
Family Hexagrammidae (Greenlings)
[edit]- Genus Hexagrammos
- Hexagrammos decagrammus (Kelp Greenling)
- Hexagrammos lagocephalus (Rock Greenling)
- Genus Ophiodon
- Ophiodon elongatus (Lingcod)
Family Pleuronectidae (Righteye Flounders)
[edit]- Genus Eopsetta
- Eopsetta jordani (Petrale Sole)
- Genus Hippoglossus
- Hippoglossus stenolepis (Pacific Halibut)
- Genus Lepidopsetta
- Lepidopsetta bilineata (Rock Sole)
- Genus Platichthys
- Platichthys stellatus (Starry Flounder)
- Genus Pleuronichthys
- Pleuronichthys coenosus (C-O Sole)
- Genus Microstomus
- Microstomus pacificus (Dover Sole)
Family Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes)
[edit]- Genus Symphurus
- Symphurus atricaudus (California Tonguefish)
Introduced Species
[edit]The following is a list of notable fish species that have been introduced to Washington state and have established self-sustaining populations.
Family Cyprinidae (Carps and Minnows)
[edit]- Genus Cyprinus
- Cyprinus carpio (Common Carp)
- Genus Ctenopharyngodon
- Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass Carp) — Sterile populations introduced for vegetation control
- Genus Hypophthalmichthys
- Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Silver Carp)
- Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Bighead Carp)
Family Salmonidae (Salmon, Trout, Chars, and Whitefish)
[edit]- Genus Salmo
- Salmo trutta (Brown Trout)
- Salvelinus fontinalis (Brook Trout)
- Genus Oncorhynchus
- Oncorhynchus aguabonita (Golden Trout) — Stocked in high alpine lakes
- Genus Prosopium
- Prosopium williamsoni (Mountain Whitefish) — Native to parts of WA, introduced to others
Family Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
[edit]- Genus Lepomis
- Lepomis gibbosus (Pumpkinseed)
- Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)
- Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish)
- Genus Micropterus
- Micropterus dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass)
- Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)
- Genus Pomoxis
- Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie)
- Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie)
Family Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes)
[edit]- Genus Ictalurus
- Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish)
- Genus Ameiurus
- Ameiurus melas (Black Bullhead)
- Ameiurus natalis (Yellow Bullhead)
Family Esocidae (Pikes)
[edit]- Genus Esox
Northern pike
Family Percidae (Perches)
[edit]- Genus Perca
- Perca flavescens (Yellow Perch)
- Genus Sander
- Sander vitreus (Walleye)
Family Moronidae (Temperate Basses)
[edit]- Genus Morone
- Morone chrysops (White Bass) — Introduced in some impoundments
References
[edit]- "Burke Museum Ichthyology Collection". University of Washington. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- "Fish Facts: Species Index". Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- "Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database - Washington". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- "Protected Species of the West Coast". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- "Species at Risk in Washington". Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- "West Coast Region: Protected Resources". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
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