Emerald Bowfin
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Name and Code
Family
Amiidae - bowfins
Species
Amia ocellicauda
Taxonomic Authority
Richardson 1836
Common Name(s)
Emerald Bowfin
French Name
poisson-castor émeraude
Species Code
051
Family TSN
161102
Parent TSN
161103
Species TSN
161104
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (2016-02-09)
National Rank (NRank)
N4N5 (2016-02-09)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
S4 (1988-11-22)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
native
General Abundance
common
Tolerance
intermediate
Economic Importance
coarse fish
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-4.961
Slope (b)
2.992
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthopelagic
Trophic Class
carnivore
Thermal Regime
warmwater
Habitat Preference
warm, weedy lake embayments and sluggish pools and backwaters of lowland rivers; preferred water temperature range 28-32°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Guarders: Nest spawners: Phytophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
lacustrine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
May-June
Spawning Temperature (°C)
16-19
Fecundity
1,900-98,737
Nursery Habitat(s)
lacustrine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
38.1-68.6 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.6-3.3
Age at Maturity (yrs)
3-4 (m); 4-5 (f)
Maximum Length (cm)
92.7 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
9.3
Lifespan (yrs)
6 (m); 10-12 (f)
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
83.5 TL
Record Weight (kg)
6.85
Ontario Range Map
Emerald Bowfin range
Ontario Distribution
Great Lakes (except Superior) and tributaries, St. Lawrence River, Lake Nipissing, Lake Simcoe, Lake-of-the-Woods
Photographs
Emerald Bowfin photograph
Emerald Bowfin photograph
Notes
tolerant of high water temperature (35°C), turbidity and low dissolved oxygen; females attain larger size than males
Information Sources
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