Fishes of the Chicago Region A Field Guide

About this book

Fish don't heed state boundaries, and neither 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 from 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. In this essential field guide, the most complete and up-to-date reference for fishes in the Chicago Region, we meet them all – lampreys, sturgeon, paddlefish, gars, drum, darters, perches, sticklebacks, sculpins, and more. Written by leading local ecologists and featuring a pictorial family key, colour photographs, detailed species distribution maps, and natural history 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.

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

Customer Reviews

Biography

Francis M. Veraldi is a fish biologist and restoration ecologist for the US Army Corps of Engineers, where he leads multidisciplinary teams for the formulation, design, and implementation of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects.

Stephen M. Pescitelli is retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, where he spent thirty years as a Natural Resources Advanced Specialist and stream biologist. He was responsible for monitoring fish assemblages in the watershed areas of the Des Plaines, DuPage, Fox, Kankakee, and Mazon Rivers as well as the Aux Sable Creek. He was also involved in stream restoration, focusing on dam removals in northeastern Illinois. He also worked and studied at the Illinois Natural History Survey.

Philip W. Willink is an academic researcher for the Illinois Natural History Survey. He was previously a senior research biologist in the Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research at the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the assistant collections manager for the Fish Division at the Field Museum of Natural History.