Pickerel
Pickerel is a common name used for several freshwater fish in the pike family, Esocidae, especially species in the genus Esox.
Pickerel is a common name used for several freshwater fish in the pike family, Esocidae, especially species in the genus Esox. In North America, the name commonly refers to chain pickerel and American pickerel, while in parts of Canada it is also used incorrectly for walleye. The term is regional and not a single taxonomic species.
Taxonomy and naming
Pickerel is a vernacular name applied to several fish in the pike family, especially species in the genus Esox. Because it is a common name, usage varies by region and does not identify one species consistently.
Species commonly called pickerel
The name is commonly used for chain pickerel (Esox niger) and American pickerel (Esox americanus). The American pickerel is divided into the redfin pickerel and grass pickerel subspecies.
Description and habitat
Pickerel are long, slender, freshwater predatory fish with duckbill-like snouts and sharp teeth. They are typically found in calm, vegetated waters such as lakes, ponds, swamps, backwaters, and slow streams.
Canadian usage
In Canada, pickerel is a traditional common name for these pike-family fishes in parts of eastern Canada, but it is also commonly and mistakenly used for walleye. The Canadian usage is regionally specific rather than standardized.
Key facts
- Pickerel is a common name for several fish in the pike family, not a single species.
- The main species are chain pickerel and American pickerel (including redfin and grass pickerel).
- Pickerel are predatory fish found in calm, vegetated freshwater habitats in eastern North America.
- In Canada, pickerel is also used regionally for walleye, causing naming confusion.
In Canada, pickerel is an established common name for several pike-family fishes in eastern regions, but it is also widely used in everyday speech for walleye, creating regional naming confusion for Canadian readers.
Frequently asked questions
Is pickerel a species?
What fish are commonly called pickerel?
Are pickerel and walleye the same fish?
What family do pickerel belong to?
Where are pickerel found?
What do pickerel eat?
References
- The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pickerelSupports: Defines pickerel as a common name for carnivorous freshwater fishes in Esocidae and notes Canadian regional use, including confusion with walleye.
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/pickerelSupports: Describes pickerel as several North American pikes in family Esocidae and gives distinguishing characteristics and species examples.
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection — https://portal.ct.gov/deep/fishing/freshwater/freshwater-fishes-of-connecticut/pike-and-pickerel?archived=trueSupports: Describes family traits, predatory diet, and freshwater spawning behavior of pike and pickerel.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EsoxSupports: States that *Esox* is a genus of freshwater fish commonly known as pike or pickerel and is the type genus of Esocidae.
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife — https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/fisheries/species-information/chain-pickerel.htmlSupports: Provides identification and size information for chain pickerel and confirms its scientific name.
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/pickerelSupports: Notes that the term pickerel is applied to several North American pikes, with chain pickerel and American pickerel among them.