The state of West Virginia has a wide variety of freshwater fish species in its rivers, lakes, and streams. 20% of these species are sportfish, and the remaining 80% are nongame species.
The taxa The following letters indicate the river systems that contain each species:
O Ohio River Basin Includes the Ohio, Monongahela, Little Kanawha, Kanawha, Guyandotte, and Big Sandy Rivers. N New River Basin Includes the New and Gauley Rivers. P Potomac River Basin Includes the Potomac River. J James River Basin Includes the James
In addition, the IUCN classifies one of these species as critically endangered , one as endangered , five as vulnerable , and three as near-threatened .
Order Petromyzontiformes (lampreys) Family Petromyzontidae (northern lampreys) Ohio lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium) O, rare Northern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor) O, rare Mountain brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon greeleyi) O, rare Silver lamprey (Ichthyomyzon unicuspis) O, rare Least brook lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera) O, N American brook lamprey (Lethenteron appendix) O, rare
Order Acipenseriformes (sturgeons and paddlefish) Family Acipenseridae (sturgeons) Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) O, extinct in West Virginia Shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) O, Surprenant, C. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) 2004. Scaphirhynchus platorynchus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T19943A9111959. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19943/9111959. Downloaded on 29 October 2018.
Family Polyodontidae (paddlefishes) American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) O, rare, Grady, J. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) 2004. Polyodon spathula. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T17938A7638243. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17938/7638243. Downloaded on 29 October 2018.
Order Lepisosteiformes (gars) Family Lepisosteidae (gars) Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) O
Order Amiiformes (bowfin) Family Amiidae (bowfin) Bowfin (Amia calva) O, rare
Order Hiodontiformes (mooneyes) Family Hiodontidae (mooneyes) Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) O, rare Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus) O
Order Anguilliformes (eels) Family Anguillidae (freshwater eels) American eel (Anguilla rostrata) O, N, P, Jacoby, D., Casselman, J., DeLucia, M. & Gollock, M. 2017. Anguilla rostrata (amended version of 2014 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T191108A121739077. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/191108/121739077. Downloaded on 29 October 2018.
Order Clupeiformes (herrings and relatives) Family Clupeidae (herrings, shads, and relatives) Skipjack shad (Alosa chrysochloris) O Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) O, N, P American gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) O Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) O
Order Cypriniformes (carps, minnows, and relatives) Family Cyprinidae (carps, true minnows, and relatives) Central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) O, N, P, J Goldfish (Carassius auratus) O, N, P, introduced Redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus) O, rare Rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides) O, N, P, J Satinfin shiner (Cyprinella analostana) P, rare Whitetail shiner (Cyprinella galactura) O, N Spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera) O, N, P Steelcolor shiner (Cyprinella whipplei) O Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) O, N, P, introduced, Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. 2008. Cyprinus carpio. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T6181A12559362. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6181/12559362. Downloaded on 29 October 2018. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) O, N, P Bighead carp (Hypopthalmichthys nobilis) O Streamline chub (Erimystax dissimilis) O, N Tonguetied minnow (Exoglossum laurae) O, N, rare Cutlips minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua) N, P, J Eastern silvery minnow (Hybognathus regius) P, rare Mississippi silvery minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) O, extinct in West Virginia Bigeye chub (Hybopsis amblops) O White shiner (Luxilus albeolus) O, N Striped shiner (Luxilus chrysocephalus) O, N, P Common shiner (Luxilus cornutus) O, P, J Rosefin shiner (Lythrurus ardens) J, rare Scarlet shiner (Lythrurus fasciolaris) O, rare Redfin shiner (Lythrurus umbratilis) O Shoal chub (Macrhybopsis hyostoma) O Silver chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana) O Allegheny pearl dace (Margariscus margarita) O, P, rare Hornyhead chub (Nocomis biguttatus) O, extinct in West Virginia Bluehead chub (Nocomis leptocephalus) N, P, J River chub (Nocomis micropogon) O, P, J Bigmouth chub (Nocomis platyrhynchus) N Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) O, N, P, J Comely shiner (Notropis amoenus) P Popeye shiner (Notropis ariommus) O, rare Emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides) O, N, P River shiner (Notropis blennius) O Bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) O, rare Ghost shiner (Notropis buchanani) O Bigmouth shiner (Notropis dorsalis) O, extinct in West Virginia Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) O, N, P Sand shiner (Notropis stramineus) O, N Silver shiner (Notropis photogenis) O, N Swallowtail shiner (Notropis procne) P Rosyface shiner (Notropis rubellus) O, N, P, J New River shiner (Notropis scabriceps) N, rare Telescope shiner (Notropis telescopus) O, N, J Mimic shiner (Notropis volucellus) O, N, P Channel shiner (Notropis wickliffi) O Silverjaw minnow (Ericymba buccata) O, N, P Pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) O, extinct in West Virginia Suckermouth minnow (Phenacobius mirabilis) O Kanawha minnow (Phenacobius teretulus) N, rare Southern redbelly dace (Chrosomus erythrogaster) O Mountain redbelly dace (Chrosomus oreas) O, N, J Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus) O, N, P Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) O, N, P Bullhead minnow (Pimephales vigilax) O, rare Eastern blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) O, P, J Western blacknose dace (Rhinichthys obtusus) O, N Cheat minnow (Pararhinichthys bowersi) O, rare Longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) O, N, P, J Common rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) N Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) O, N, P, J Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) P
Family Catostomidae (suckers) River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) O Quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus) O Highfin carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer) O, rare Longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus) O, extinct in West Virginia White sucker (Catostomus commersonii) O, N, P, J Blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) O, rare Creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus) P Northern hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans) O, N, P, J Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) O Bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) O, rare Black buffalo (Ictiobus niger) O, rare Spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops) O Silver redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum) O River redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum) O Black redhorse (Moxostoma duquesnei) O Golden redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum) O, N, P Smallmouth redhorse (Moxostoma breviceps) O Shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum) P, rare Torrent sucker (Thoburnia rhothoeca) N, P
Order Siluriformes (catfishes) Family Ictaluridae (ictalurid catfishes) White bullhead (Ameiurus catus) O Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) O, N Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) O, N, P Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) O, N, P Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) O Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) O, N, P Mountain madtom (Noturus eleutherus) O, rare Stonecat (Noturus flavus) O, N Margined madtom (Noturus insignis) O, N, P, J Brindled madtom (Noturus miurus) O Northern madtom (Noturus stigmosus) O, rare, NatureServe 2014. Noturus stigmosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T202698A19035375. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/202698/19035375. Downloaded on 29 October 2018. Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) O, N
Order Esociformes (pikes and mudminnows) Family Esocidae (pikes) Redfin pickerel (Esox a. americanus) O, P, rare Grass pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) O, rare Northern pike (Esox lucius) O, P Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) O, N, P Tiger muskellunge (Esox masquinongy x lucius) O, N, P Chain pickerel (Esox niger) O, N, P
Family Umbridae (mudminnows) Central mudminnow (Umbra limi) O
Order Salmoniformes (trout) Family Salmonidae (trout) Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) P, introduced Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) O, N, P, J, introduced Brown trout (Salmo trutta) O, N, J, P, introduced Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) O, N, J, P
Order Percopsiformes (trout-perch) Family Percopsidae (trout-perch) Trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus) O
Order Cyprinodontiformes (toothcarps) Family Fundulidae (topminnows) Northern studfish (Fundulus catenatus) O Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) O, P, rare Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) P
Family Poeciliidae (livebearers) Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) O, N, P
Order Atheriniformes (silversides) Family Atherinopsidae (neotropical silversides) Brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus) O, N, P
Order Gasterosteiformes (sticklebacks) Family Gasterosteidae (sticklebacks) Brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) O
Order Scorpaeniformes (mail-cheeked fishes) Family Cottidae (sculpins) Mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii) O, N, J Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) P, J Slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) P, rare Potomac sculpin (Cottus girardi) P Kanawha sculpin (Cottus kanawhae) N, rare Bluestone sculpin (Cottus sp.) N
Order Perciformes (sunfishes and perches) Family Moronidae (temperate basses) White perch (Morone americana) O White bass (Morone chrysops) O, N Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) O, N Hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x saxatilis) O
Family Centrarchidae (sunfishes) Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) O, N, J, P Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) O, N, J, P Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) O, N, J, P Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) O, N, J, P Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) O, P Orangespotted sunfish (Lepomis humilis) O Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) O, N, J, P Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) O, N, P Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) O Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) O, N, J, P Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) O, N Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) O, N, J, P White crappie (Pomoxis annularis) O, N, P Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) O, N, P
Family Percidae (perches, darters, and relatives) Eastern sand darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) O Western sand darter (Ammocrypta clara) O, rare, NatureServe 2014. Ammocrypta clara. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T202428A2744621. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/202428/2744621. Downloaded on 29 October 2018. Diamond darter (Crystallaria cincotta) O, rare, NatureServe 2013. Crystallaria cincotta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T202435A15362696. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/202435/15362696. Downloaded on 29 October 2018. Greenside darter (Etheostoma blennioides) O, N, P Rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) O, N, P Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) O Fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare) O, N, P, J Longfin darter (Etheostoma longimanum) J, rare Spotted darter (Etheostoma maculatum) O, rare, NatureServe 2013. Etheostoma maculatum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T8118A13370273. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8118/13370273. Downloaded on 29 October 2018. Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) O, N, J Tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) P Candy darter (Etheostoma osburni) N, rare, NatureServe 2014. Etheostoma osburni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T8124A13387979. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8124/13387979. Downloaded on 29 October 2018. Snubnose darter (Etheostoma simoterum) N Tippecanoe darter (Etheostoma tippecanoe) O, NatureServe 2014. Etheostoma tippecanoe. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T202545A18232256. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/202545/18232256. Downloaded on 29 October 2018. Variegate darter (Etheostoma variatum) O, N Banded darter (Etheostoma zonale) O Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) O, N, P Common logperch (Percina caprodes) O, N