There are at least 31 game and 59 non-game fish species known to occur in Montana.[1] Among Montana's fish, three are listed as endangered or threatened species and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks lists a number of species as species of concern.[2]
Species are listed by common name, scientific name, typical habitat and occurrence. Common and scientific names are from the Montana Field Guide.[1]
Game fish[edit]
Trout[edit]
Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Salmonidae[3]
- Native species
- Westslope cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi (Salish: Pisɫ) [4]
- Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri
- Columbia River redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri
- Bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Salish: Aáy or Ɫaʔáy; Kutenai: Tuhuǂ) [4]
- Montana Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus montanus[5]
- Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush
- Mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni (Salish: X̣ʷy̓u) [4]
- Pygmy whitefish, Prosopium coulteri
- Lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis
- Non-native, exotic species
- Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Other than the red band subspecies, rainbow trout are an introduced species in Montana)
- Brown trout, Salmo trutta
- Golden trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita
- Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis
- Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus[5] - Adfluvial grayling introduced into Montana Lakes
- Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Kokanee salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka
- Cisco, Coregonus artedi
Paddlefish[edit]
Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Polyodontidae[6]
- Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula
Pike[edit]
Order: Esociformes, Family: Esocidae[7]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Northern pike, Esox lucius
- Tiger muskellunge, Esox masquinongy × lucius
Bass, Sunfish[edit]
Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae[8]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides
- Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu
- White crappie, Pomoxis annularis
Perch[edit]
Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae[9]
- Native species
- Sauger, Sander canadensis
- Non-native, exotic species
- Yellow perch, Perca flavescens
- Walleye, Sander vitreus
Catfish[edit]
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae[10]
- Native species
- Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus
Sturgeon[edit]
Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Acipenseridae [11]
- Native species
- Pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus
- Shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
- White sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus
Burbot[edit]
Order: Gadiformes, Family: Gadidae[12]
- Native species
- Burbot, Lota lota
Non-game fish[edit]
Bass, sunfish[edit]
Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae[8]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus
- Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus
- Pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus
- Rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris
Perch[edit]
Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae[9]
- Native species
- Iowa darter, Etheostoma exile
Temperate basses[edit]
Order: Perciformes, Family: Moronidae[13]
- Non-native, exotic species
- White bass, Morone chrysops
Catfish[edit]
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae[10]
- Native species
- Stonecat, Noturus flavus
- Non-native, exotic species
- Black bullhead, Ameiurus melas
- Yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis
Drum[edit]
Order: Perciformes, Family: Sciaenidae[14]
- Native species
- Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens
Smelt[edit]
Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Osmeridae[15]
- Non native, exotic species
- Rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax
Gars[edit]
Order: Lepisosteiformes. Family: Lepisosteidae[16]
- Native species
- Shortnose gar, Lepisosteus platostomus
Mooneyes[edit]
Order: Hiodontiformes, Family: Hiodontidae[17]
- Native species
- Goldeye, Hiodon alosoides
Mollies[edit]
Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Poeciliidae[18]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Green swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri
- Sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna
- Shortfin molly, Poecilia mexicana
- Variable platyfish, Xiphophorus variatus
- Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis
Killifish[edit]
Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Fundulidae[19]
- Non-Native, exotic species
- Northern Plains killifish, Fundulus kansae
- Banded killifish, Fundulus diaphanus
Minnows[edit]
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Cyprinidae[20]
- Native species
- Brassy minnow, Hybognathus hankinsoni
- Emerald shiner, Notropis atherinoides
- Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas
- Flathead chub, Platygobio gracilis
- Golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas
- Longnose dace, Rhinichthys cataractae
- Northern pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Salish: Qʷq̓é) [4]
- Northern redbelly dace, Phoxinus eos
- Peamouth, Mylocheilus caurinus
- Allegheny pearl dace, Margariscus margarita
- Northern pearl dace, Margariscus nachtriebi
- Plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus
- Redside shiner, Richardsonius balteatus
- Sand shiner, Notropis stramineus
- Sicklefin chub, Macrhybopsis meeki
- Western silvery minnow, Hybognathus argyritis
- Sturgeon chub, Macrhybopsis gelida
- Lake chub, Couesius plumbeus
- Creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus
- Non-native, exotic species
- Goldfish, Carassius auratus
- Common carp, Cyprinus carpio
- Spottail shiner, Notropis hudsonius
- Utah chub, Gila atraria
Suckers[edit]
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Catostomidae[21]
- Native species
- Bigmouth buffalo, Ictiobus cyprinellus
- Blue sucker, Cycleptus elongatus
- Largescale sucker, Catostomus macrocheilus
- Longnose sucker, Catostomus catostomus
- Mountain sucker, Catostomus platyrhynchus
- River carpsucker, Carpiodes carpio
- Shorthead redhorse, Moxostoma macrolepidotum
- Smallmouth buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus
- White sucker, Catostomus commersoni
Mudminnows[edit]
Order: Esociformes, Family: Umbridae[22]
- Non-native, exotic species
- Central mudminnow, Umbra limi
Sculpins[edit]
Order: Scorpaeniformes, Family: Cottidae[23]
- Native species
- Deepwater sculpin, Myoxocephalus thompsonii
- Mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi
- Slimy sculpin, Cottus cognatus
- Spoonhead sculpin, Cottus ricei
- Torrent sculpin, Cottus rhotheus
Sticklebacks[edit]
Order: Gasterosteiformes, Family: Gasterosteidae[24]
- Native species
- Brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans
Trout-perch[edit]
Order: Percopsiformes, Family: Percopsidae[25]
- Native species
- Trout-perch, Percopsis omiscomaycus
See also[edit]
- List of amphibians and reptiles of Montana
- Birds of Montana
- List of non-marine molluscs of Montana
- Fishes of Yellowstone National Park
Further reading[edit]
- "Montana Fisheries Information System". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- Burr, Brooks M.; Page, Lawrence M. (1991). A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes: North America North of Mexico (Peterson Field Guides). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0-395-91091-9.
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b "Montana Field Guide". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ^ Species of Concern are native taxa that are at-risk due to declining population trends, threats to their habitats, restricted distribution, and/or other factors. Designation as a Montana Species of Concern or Potential Species of Concern is based on the Montana Status Rank, and is not a statutory or regulatory classification. Rather, these designations provide information that helps resource managers make proactive decisions regarding species conservation and data collection priorities. "Species Status Codes". Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Trout". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ a b c d Rockwell, David (2008). čɫq̓étkʷ ntx̣ʷétkʷs - 'a kinmituk - The Lower Flathead River, Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana, a cultural, historical, and scientific resource. Pablo, Montana: Salish Kootenai College Tribal History Project.
- ^ a b "Arctic Grayling - Montana Field Guide". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Paddlefish". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Pikes and Pickerels". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ a b "Montana Field Guide-Sunfishes". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ a b "Montana Field Guide-Perches". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ a b "Montana Field Guide-Catfish and Bullheads". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Sturgeon". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Burbot". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Temperate Basses". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Drums". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Smelt". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Gars". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Mooneyes". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Livebearers (Mosquitofish / Mollies / Swordtails)". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Killifish". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Minnows". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Suckers". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Mudminnows". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Sculpins". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Sticklebacks". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ "Montana Field Guide-Trout-Perch". Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
