Fishes of the Chicago Region
A Field Guide
9780226837352
9780226837369
Fishes of the Chicago Region
A Field Guide
Fish don’t heed state boundaries, nor does this comprehensive, photo-filled guide to the diverse species of Chicago and beyond.
Encompassing southern Lake Michigan, northeastern Illinois, and adjacent areas of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the Chicago Region is home to rare habitats supporting diverse fish populations. From small creeks to large rivers, and small ponds to one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems, Lake Michigan, these systems are home to some 164 fish species representing 31 families. We meet them all—lampreys, sturgeon, paddlefish, gars, drum, darters, perches, sticklebacks, sculpins, and more—in this book, the most complete and up-to-date reference for fishes in the Chicago Region. Written by leading local ecologists and featuring a pictorial family key, color photographs, and detailed distribution maps for each species, as well as natural history summaries with observations unique to the region, this go-to guide belongs on the shelf—and in the boat—of every angler, naturalist, fisheries manager, and biologist.
Encompassing southern Lake Michigan, northeastern Illinois, and adjacent areas of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the Chicago Region is home to rare habitats supporting diverse fish populations. From small creeks to large rivers, and small ponds to one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems, Lake Michigan, these systems are home to some 164 fish species representing 31 families. We meet them all—lampreys, sturgeon, paddlefish, gars, drum, darters, perches, sticklebacks, sculpins, and more—in this book, the most complete and up-to-date reference for fishes in the Chicago Region. Written by leading local ecologists and featuring a pictorial family key, color photographs, and detailed distribution maps for each species, as well as natural history summaries with observations unique to the region, this go-to guide belongs on the shelf—and in the boat—of every angler, naturalist, fisheries manager, and biologist.
528 pages | 419 color plates, 2 line drawings | 6 x 9 | © 2025
Biological Sciences: Ecology, Natural History
Reviews
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Book Organization
Chapter 3: Pictorial Key to the Families
Species Accounts
Chapter 4: Lampreys (Petromyzontidae)
Chapter 5: Sturgeons (Acipenseridae)
Chapter 6: Paddlefishes (Polyodontidae)
Chapter 7: Gars (Lepisosteidae)
Chapter 8: Bowfins (Amiidae)
Chapter 9: Freshwater Eels (Anguillidae)
Chapter 10: Mooneyes (Hiodontidae)
Chapter 11: Shads and Herrings (Clupeidae)
Chapter 12: Suckers (Catostomidae)
Chapter 13: Barbs and Carps (Cyprinidae)
Chapter 14: Sharpbellies (Xenocyprididae)
Chapter 15: True Minnows (Leuciscidae)
Chapter 16: Loaches (Cobitidae)
Chapter 17: North American Catfishes (Ictaluridae)
Chapter 18: Pikes (Esocidae)
Chapter 19: Mudminnows (Umbridae)
Chapter 20: Salmon, Trouts, Chars, and Whitefishes (Salmonidae)
Chapter 21: Smelts (Osmeridae)
Chapter 22: Trout-perches (Percopsidae)
Chapter 23: Pirate Perches (Aphredoderidae)
Chapter 24: Hakes, Lings, Rocklings, and Burbots (Lotidae)
Chapter 25: Gobies (Gobiidae)
Chapter 26: New World Silversides (Atherinopsidae)
Chapter 27: Topminnows and Killifishes (Fundulidae)
Chapter 28: Livebearers (Poeciliidae)
Chapter 29: Sunfishes (Centrarchidae)
Chapter 30: Temperate Basses (Moronidae)
Chapter 31: Drums and Croakers (Sciaenidae)
Chapter 32: Darters and Perches (Percidae)
Chapter 33: Sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae)
Chapter 34: Sculpins (Cottidae)
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Fish Identification
Glossary
References
Photo Credits
Taxonomic Index
Subject Index
Preface
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Book Organization
Chapter 3: Pictorial Key to the Families
Species Accounts
Chapter 4: Lampreys (Petromyzontidae)
Chapter 5: Sturgeons (Acipenseridae)
Chapter 6: Paddlefishes (Polyodontidae)
Chapter 7: Gars (Lepisosteidae)
Chapter 8: Bowfins (Amiidae)
Chapter 9: Freshwater Eels (Anguillidae)
Chapter 10: Mooneyes (Hiodontidae)
Chapter 11: Shads and Herrings (Clupeidae)
Chapter 12: Suckers (Catostomidae)
Chapter 13: Barbs and Carps (Cyprinidae)
Chapter 14: Sharpbellies (Xenocyprididae)
Chapter 15: True Minnows (Leuciscidae)
Chapter 16: Loaches (Cobitidae)
Chapter 17: North American Catfishes (Ictaluridae)
Chapter 18: Pikes (Esocidae)
Chapter 19: Mudminnows (Umbridae)
Chapter 20: Salmon, Trouts, Chars, and Whitefishes (Salmonidae)
Chapter 21: Smelts (Osmeridae)
Chapter 22: Trout-perches (Percopsidae)
Chapter 23: Pirate Perches (Aphredoderidae)
Chapter 24: Hakes, Lings, Rocklings, and Burbots (Lotidae)
Chapter 25: Gobies (Gobiidae)
Chapter 26: New World Silversides (Atherinopsidae)
Chapter 27: Topminnows and Killifishes (Fundulidae)
Chapter 28: Livebearers (Poeciliidae)
Chapter 29: Sunfishes (Centrarchidae)
Chapter 30: Temperate Basses (Moronidae)
Chapter 31: Drums and Croakers (Sciaenidae)
Chapter 32: Darters and Perches (Percidae)
Chapter 33: Sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae)
Chapter 34: Sculpins (Cottidae)
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Fish Identification
Glossary
References
Photo Credits
Taxonomic Index
Subject Index