(WHTM) - Pennsylvania is covered with 404,000 acres or 1.4% of wetlands which includes 83,000 miles of rivers and streams and 4,000 lakes, reservoirs, and ponds.
There are 29,000 species of fish in the world and 160 species of fish in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. So what kind of species are found in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, there are six major watersheds that fish will live in: Erie, Ohio, Genesee, Potomac, Susquehanna, and the Delaware.
The following fish species (families) exist in Pennsylvania:
- Lampreys (Family Petromyzontidae)
- Sturgeons (Family Acipenseridae)
- Paddlefishes (Family Polyodontidae)
- Gars (Family Lepisosteidae)
- Bowfins (Family Amiidae)
- Mooneyes (Family Hiodontidae)
- Tenpounders (Family Elopidae)
- Freshwater Eels (Family Anguillidae)
- Anchovies (Family Engraulidae)
- Herrings (Family Clupeidae)
- Carps and Minnows (Family Cyprinidae)
- Suckers (Family Catostomidae)
- North American Catfishes (Family Ictaluridae)
- Smelts (Family Osmeridae)
- Trouts and Salmons (Family Salmonidae)
- Pikes and Mudminnows (Family Esocidae)
- Trout-Perches (Family Percopsidae)
- Pirate Perches (Family Aphredoderidae)
- Cods (Family Gadidae)
- Toadfishes (Family Batrachoididae)
- Mullets (Family Mugilidae)
- New World Silversides (Family Atherinopsidae)
- Needlefishes (Family Belonidae)
- Topminnows (Family Fundulidae)
- Pupfishes (Family Cyprinodontidae)
- Livebearers (Family Poeciliidae)
- Sticklebacks (Family Gasterosteidae)
- Pipefishes and Seahorses (Family Syngnathidae)
- Sculpins (Family Cottidae)
- Temperate Basses (Family Moronidae)
- Sunfishes (Family Centrarchidae)
- Perches and Darters (Family Percidae)
- Bluefishes (Family Pomatomidae)
- Jacks (Family Carangidae)
- Snappers (Family Lutjanidae)
- Drums and Croakers (Family Sciaenidae)
- Cichlids and Tilapias (Family Cichlidae)
- Gobies (Family Gobiidae)
- Snakeheads (Family Channidae)
- Turbots (Family Scophthalmidae)
- Sand Flounders (Family Paralichthyidae)
- Righteye Flounders (Family Pleuronectidae)
- American Soles (Family Achiridae)
Within the species families listed above are hundreds of fish that can be found around Pennsylvania.
The following fish are considered endangered in Pennsylvania:
- Shortnose Sturgeon
- Lake Sturgeon
- Atlantic Sturgeon
- Spotted Gar
- Hickory Shad
- Northern Redbelly Dace
- Gravel Chub
- Redfin Shiner
- Bridle Shiner
- River Shiner
- Ghost Shiner
- Ironcolor Shiner
- Blackchin Shiner
- Longnose Sucker
- Bigmouth Buffalo
- Black Bullhead
- Mountain Madtom
- Tadpole Madtom
- Northern Madtom
- Cisco
- Burbot
- Threespine Stickleback
- Banded Sunfish
- Longear Sunfish
- Warmouth
- Eastern Sand Darter
- Iowa Darter
According to Bass Online, the top fish species found in Pennsylvania are the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye fish, lake trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout.
For more information on fish in Pennsylvania, visit the PA Fish and Boat and Commission website.