Black crappie
| Black crappie | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Centrarchidae |
| Genus: | Pomoxis |
| Species: | P. nigromaculatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pomoxis nigromaculatus Lesueur, 1829 |
|
The black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), is a freshwater fish found in North America, one of the two crappies. It is very similar to the white crappie in size, shape, and habits, except that it is darker, with a pattern of black spots. It is most accurately identified by the seven or eight spines on its dorsal fin. The oldest recorded age of a specimen is fifteen years, although seven years is a more typical life span for the species.[1]
The black crappie's range is uncertain, since it has been widely transplanted, but it is presumed to be similar to the white crappie's. Its native range is in the eastern United States and Canada, and as of 2005, populations existed in all of the 48 contiguous U.S. states.[2][1][3] The black crappie habitat occurs in lakes, reservoirs, borrow pits and navigation pools in large rivers. They prefer areas with little or no current, clear water, and abundant cover such as submerged timber or aquatic vegetation.[4]
The black crappie tends to prefer clearer water than the white crappie does. Its diet, as an adult, also tends to be less dominated by other fish than that of the white crappie.[1][3]
The breeding season varies by location, due to the species’ great range; breeding temperature is 14‒20 °C (58‒68 °F) and spawning occurs between April and June.[citation needed] Spawning occurs in a nest built by the male, who guards the eggs and young.[1][5]
Like P. annularis, P. nigromaculatus is very prolific and can tend to overpopulate its environment, with negative consequences both for the crappie and for other fish species.[citation needed] A commercial supplier of the fish, however, claims that it can be safely stocked in ponds as small as one acre (0.4 ha) in area.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Pomoxis nigromaculatus" in FishBase. March 2006 version.
- ^ "Black Crappie". Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/BlackCrappie/BlackCrappie.html. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ a b "Black Crappie". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/crappie/. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ "Species and Eco Systems". Harrison Fishery. http://harrisonfishery.com/species.htm#BlackCrappie. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
- ^ "Comprehensive Report Species - Pomoxis nigromaculatus". NatureServe Explorer. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=POMOXIS+NIGROMACULATUS. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ "Types of Fish: Black Crappie". Dunn’s Fish Farm. http://www.dunnsfishfarm.com/fish_types.htm#crappie. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
[edit] External links
Media related to Pomoxis nigromaculatus at Wikimedia Commons
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