Great Lakes Water Life Photo Gallery

Fish

Bowfins

Family: Amiidae - Bowfins

Distribution and Habitat

N = Native, I = Introduced (exotic), X = Extinct, P = Extirpated

Image/Link	Scientific Name	Common Name	Lake Superior	Lake Michigan	Lake Huron	Lake Erie	Lake Ontario	Habitat
	Amia calva	bowfin		N	N	N	N	river/littoral

Table modified from "The Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery" MI Sea Grant Extension, Michigan State University.

Species Profile

Amia calva - bowfin

  Profile - WI Sea Grant
  Profile - Fish of Indiana
  Profile - Fishes of Minnesota
  Profile - Fishes of New York State

Scientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Scientific Profile - University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology

The bowfin may be distinguished from all other fishes of the region by the long dorsal fin that arches in a bow over most of the back of the fish. Bowfins come to the surface every few minutes to breathe air. They use their swim bladder as if it were a lung. They also use gills to breath in the water. Young eat algae, zooplankton, and small insects. Adults are voracious consumers of fish, although they will also eat crayfish, small rodents, snakes, turtles, and leeches. Length to 39 inches. The angling record for this fish in Minnesota is 4.6 kg (10 lbs 15 oz).

GLERL Waterlife Photo Gallery

Fishes of Minnesota

Other drawings/artwork:
  US Fish and Wildlife Service
  Fish of Indiana
  Fishes of New York State

Other photos:
WI Sea Grant
Fishes of Minnesota

The Northern snakehead (Channa argus - Family Channidae) is an exotic species which has an appearance similar to the bowfin. A northern snakehead was caught in Lake Michigan in October of 2004 but the species is not believed to be established in the Great Lakes. Any sighting of a northern snakehead should be immediately reported to your local conservation officer or Sea Grant office. Do not return snakehead to the water!

MI DNR - ID of Snakehead versus common native species

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