Species: Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Black Crappie
Species
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Centrarchidae
Genus
Pomoxis
NatureServe
Classification
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Fishes - Bony Fishes - Sunfishes and Freshwater Basses
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Actinopterygii - Perciformes - Centrarchidae - Pomoxis
Ecology and Life History
Habitat Type Description
Freshwater
Migration
false - false - false
Non-migrant
false
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
Primarily a midwater feeder; zooplankton and small Diptera larvae predominate in the diet of individuals to 12 cm SL, while fishes and aquatic insects predominate in the diet of larger individuals (Moyle 1976).
Reproduction Comments
Spawns in spring and summer; eggs hatch in about 2-5 days; male guards eggs and hatchlings; sexually mature in 2nd or 3rd year; nests in loose colonies (Moyle 1976, Becker 1983, Scott and Crossman 1973).
Ecology Comments
Travels in schools (Becker 1983).
Length
42
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-09-23
Global Status Last Changed
1996-09-23
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
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Global Range
Native to most of eastern U.S. (west to Texas) and adjacent southern Canada, north to St. Lawrence-Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Manitoba, but apparently not native to northern half of Atlantic slope (north of Virginia). Widely introduced elsewhere in North America. Common in lowlands, rare in uplands.