|
Esox
lucius
Northern pike
Grand
Brochet
Source:
FishBase.org
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| Esox
lucius
Linnaeus,
1758 |
|
| Family:
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Esocidae
(Pikes) |
.
 |
| Order:
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Esociformes
(pikes and mudminnows) |
| Class:
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Actinopterygii
(ray-finned fishes) |
| FishBase
name: |
Northern pike |
| Max. size: |
137 cm FL
(male/unsexed; Ref. 40637); 150 cm TL (female);
max. published weight: 28.4 kg (Ref. 40637);
max. published weight: 35 kg; max. reported age:
30 years |
| Environment:
|
demersal;
potamodromous; freshwater; brackish; depth range
0 – 30 m |
| Climate: |
temperate; 10 – 28°C;
74°N - 36°N, 167°W - 180°E |
|
Importance: |
fisheries: highly
commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish:
yes; aquarium: public aquariums |
| Resilience:
|
Low, minimum
population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years
(K=0.12-0.23; tm=1-4; tmax=30; Fec=2,000-600,000) |
Distribution:
Gazetteer |
Circumpolar in fresh
water. North America: Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific,
Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from
Labrador to Alaska and south to Pennsylvania,
Missouri and Nebraska, USA. Eurasia: France to
eastern Siberia, south to northern Italy. Absent
from northern Norway and northern Scotland.
Introduced into other countries. Several
countries report adverse ecological impact after
introduction.
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| Morphology:
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Dorsal
spines
(total): 6 - 8; Dorsal
soft
rays (total): 17 - 25; Anal
spines:
4 – 7; Anal
soft
rays: 10 – 22; Vertebrae:
57 – 65. Distinguished by its long, flat,
'duck-bill' snout; its large mouth with many
large, sharp teeth; and the rearward position of
its dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 27547). Gill
rakers present only as patches of sharp teeth on
gill arches; lateral line notched posteriorly
(Ref. 27547). Dorsal located far to the rear;
anal located under and arising a little behind
dorsal; pectorals low on body, base under
opercle; pelvic fins low on body; paired fins
rounded, paddle-shaped (Ref. 27547). Caudal fin
with 19 rays (Ref. 2196).
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| Biology:
|
Occurs in clear
vegetated lakes, quiet pools and backwaters of
creeks and small to large rivers (Ref. 5723).
Usually solitary and highly territorial. Enters
brackish water in the Baltic. Adults feed mainly
on fishes, but at times feed heavily on frogs
and crayfish (Ref. 27547). Cannibalistic as
juveniles (Ref. 30578). Eggs and young are
preyed upon by fishes, aquatic insect larvae,
birds, and aquatic mammals (Ref. 1998). Does not
generally undertake long migrations, but a few
may move considerable distances (Ref. 27547).
Oviparous (Ref. 205). This fish can be heavily
infested with parasites, including the broad
tapeworm which, if not killed by thorough
cooking, can infect human; is used as an
intermediate host by a cestode parasite which
results to large losses in usable catches of
lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
in some areas; also suffers from a trematode
which causes unsightly cysts on the skin (Ref.
9988). Excellent food fish; utilized fresh and
frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled, and baked
(Ref. 9988). Valuable game fish (Ref. 5723). In
spite of numerous attempts to culture this
species, it was never entirely domesticated and
does not accept artificial food (Ref. 30578).
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