Fish Anatomy body shape Laterally compressed

Fish Anatomy body shape Fusiform

Fish Anatomy gills

Fish Anatomy scales

Fish Anatomy fins

Fish Anatomy fins

Fish Anatomy lateral line

Fish Anatomy swim bladder

Fish Anatomy eyes

Fish Anatomy ears

Fish Anatomy nares (nose)

Fish Anatomy coloration

Bluegill Fish ID Small, flattened fish, shaped like the palm of a hand 2 part dorsal fin – spines in front, and soft rays in back Small mouth (edge of mouth doesn’t reach the front of the eye) Dark vertical stripes on sides Ear flap is black Breast is yellow/orange Chin and lower part of gill cover is blue

Bluegill Fish ID Spines are sharp like needles! Small, flattened fish, shaped like the palm of a hand 2 part dorsal fin – spines in front, and soft rays in back Small mouth (edge of mouth doesn’t reach the front of the eye) Dark vertical stripes on sides Ear flap is black Breast is yellow/orange Chin and lower part of gill cover is blue Spines are sharp like needles! They help protect the fish from larger fish.

Bluegill Fish ID Bluegill spend most of their time in vegetation. Small, flattened fish, shaped like the palm of a hand 2 part dorsal fin – spines in front, and soft rays in back Small mouth (edge of mouth doesn’t reach the front of the eye) Dark vertical stripes on sides Ear flap is black Breast is yellow/orange Chin and lower part of gill cover is blue Bluegill spend most of their time in vegetation. The vertical stripes help camouflage them.

Fish ID Bluegill Small, flattened fish, shaped like the palm of a hand 2 part dorsal fin – spines in front, and soft rays in back Small mouth (edge of mouth doesn’t reach the front of the eye) Dark vertical stripes on sides Ear flap is black Breast is yellow/orange Chin and lower part of gill cover is blue Bluegill primarily eat aquatic insects and other invertebrates.

Green Sunfish Fish ID Distinguished from bluegill by: Body is longer than round Larger mouth (edge of mouth reaches the front of the eye) Fins tipped in yellow/orange Ear flap has yellow/orange edge Blue streaks on the sides of head

Largemouth Bass Fish ID Body is long instead of round Very large mouth (edge of mouth reaches past the eye) White on bottom Dark stripe on sides Spiny and soft-rayed parts of dorsal fin nearly separate Can get larger than sunfish – up to 10 lbs. in Nebraska

Largemouth Bass Fish ID Body is long instead of round Very large mouth (edge of mouth reaches past the eye) White on bottom Dark stripe on sides Spiny and soft-rayed parts of dorsal fin nearly separate Can get larger than sunfish – up to 10 lbs. in Nebraska Dark on top & light on bottom is called countershading. It camouflages a fish from predators.

Channel Catfish Fish ID No scales on body Whiskers (barbels) on mouth Small fatty adipose fin on back When small, dark spots on sides of body Forked tail fin Can get very large – record is 41.5 lbs. in Nebraska

Channel Catfish Fish ID Barbels don’t sting! They are covered in ‘tastebuds’ and used to locate food. Spines on the pelvic & dorsal fins are the things to be careful of! No scales on body Whiskers (barbels) on mouth Small fatty adipose fin on back When small, dark spots on sides of body Forked tail fin Can get very large – record is 41.5 lbs. in Nebraska

Black Bullhead Fish ID Distinguished from channel catfish by: No spots on sides of body Brown or golden orange color Rounded tail fin Does not grow to large sizes

Rainbow Trout Fish ID Long, streamlined body Very small scales Small fatty adipose fin on back Small black spots on body and tail fin, dorsal fin Pinkish stripe on sides Can get large – record is 14 lbs. in Nebraska

Fish Handling

Measuring Fish