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:
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,
Family Polyodontidae (paddlefishes) American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) O, rare,
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,
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, 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