This document provides descriptions of physical characteristics for various fish species found in Oklahoma waters. It describes distinguishing features such as body shape, fin shape, mouth position, coloration, spots and bars for 29 different species, including sunfish, bass, catfish and others. Key identifying characteristics are emphasized to tell species apart, such as snout length and spotting patterns in different gar species, and fin ray counts and spotting patterns for crappie and redhorse suckers.

1. OCC Fish Review 2009

2. Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatas Prominent broad snout, top of head spotted

3. Longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus Extremely long and slender snout; few spots, head and snout without spots

4. Shortnose Gar Lepisosteus platostomus Short, broad snout Body without spots

5. Grass Pickerel Esox americanus Ducklike beak

6. Gizzard Shad; Dorosoma cepedianum Threadfin Shad; Dorosoma petenense Blunt snout overhangs subterminal mouth Terminal mouth Chin speckled with black pigment Caudal fin yellow in life

7. Central Stoneroller Campostoma anomalum U-shaped horizontal mouth Cartilaginous lower lip Soft belly Black or brown spots where scales have been lost

9. Common Carp Cyprinus carpio Long dorsal fin 2 pairs of barbels

10. Redspot Chub Nocomis asper Barbel hidden at corner of mouth Red spot on adults

11. Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus Large mouth Black spots

12. White Sucker Catostomus commersoni Papillose lips Area between eyes flat Very small scales

13. River Carpsucker Carpiodes carpio Subtriangular shape of the subopercle bone

14. Smallmouth Buffalo Ictiobus bubalus Semicircular shape of the subopercle bone

15. River Carpsucker Smallmouth Buffalo

16. Northern Hog Sucker Hypentelium nigricans Papillose lips

17. Bigmouth Buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus Lips thin Oblique, nearly terminal mouth

18. Spotted Sucker Minytrema melanops Black spot at the base of each scale

21. Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis Straight or rounded caudal fin margin Whitish chin barbels Free adipose fin

22. Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas Free adipose fin Gray or black chin barbels Almost square or slightly notched caudal fin

23. Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Deeply forked caudal fin Free adipose fin Upper jaw protruding beyond lower Randomly scattered spots Short base, rounded margin

24. Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris Mottled body Head flattened between the eyes Squared caudal fin Projecting lower jaw

25. Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus Wedge shaped head, upper jaw projects beyond lower Deeply forked caudal No black spots Anal fin outer margin straight, long base

26. Banded Sculpin Cottus carolinae

27. White Bass Morone chrysops Separate dorsal fins Dark longitudinal stripes on sides; lower stripes often discontinuous Small head, acute snout, large mouth

28. Shadow Bass Ambloplites ariommus Large mouth 5 or 6 anal spines Dark blotches on sides

29. Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides Jaw extends behind eye Deep notch Dark band Irregular spots

30. Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieui Sides plain or vertical bars Shallow notch Cheek bars

31. Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus Lateral band of blotches Horizontal rows of dark spots Shallow notch Tooth patch on tongue Caudal spot

32. White Crappie Pomoxis annularis Small head, large mouth Faint vertical bars 5 or 6 dorsal spines 6 anal spines

33. Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus Irregular black speckles 7 or 8 dorsal spines 6 anal spines

34. Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus Long, pointed pectoral fin Red spot on opercular flap 3 anal spines Usually 10 dorsal spines

35. Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis Elongated opercular flap Pectoral fin short and rounded Small mouth

36. Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus Small mouth Long, pointed pectoral fin Dark blotch in soft dorsal fin 10 dorsal spines 3 anal spines May have vertical bars

37. Orangespotted Sunfish Lepomis humilis Large mouth Moderately long, pointed pectoral fin Orange spots Iris of eye red or orange

38. Warmouth Lepomis gulosus Large head and mouth Lines radiating from eye to gill cover margin Tooth patch on tongue Short, round pectoral fin

39. Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus Large mouth Dark blotch Short, round pectoral fin Often has dark vertical bars Fin margins whitish orange

40. Freshwater Drum Aplodinotus grunniens Blunt snout, subterminal mouth Lateral line High arching back Diamond shaped caudal fin