Chain Pickerel
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Name and Code
Family
Esocidae - pikes and mudminnows
Species
Esox niger
Taxonomic Authority
Lesueur 1818
Common Name(s)
Chain Pickerel
French Name
brochet maillé
Species Code
135
Family TSN
162137
Parent TSN
162138
Species TSN
162143
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (2011-12-01)
National Rank (NRank)
N3N4 (2017-12-21)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SNA (2009-10-22)
COSEWIC Status
Not at Risk (Apr 1997)
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
natural dispersal
General Abundance
rare
Tolerance
intermediate
Economic Importance
none
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-5.824
Slope (b)
3.243
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthopelagic
Trophic Class
carnivore
Thermal Regime
warmwater
Habitat Preference
clear backwaters and quiet pools of creeks and small to medium-sized rivers, ponds and shallow (<3 m) lakes with abundant aquatic vegetation; preferred water temperature range 21-30°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Phytophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
April-May
Spawning Temperature (°C)
6-11
Fecundity
6,102-29,928
Nursery Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
30.5-63.5 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.17-1.84
Age at Maturity (yrs)
3-5
Maximum Length (cm)
99.1 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
5.6
Lifespan (yrs)
8-10
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
64.7 TL
Record Weight (kg)
2.023
Ontario Range Map
Chain Pickerel range
Ontario Distribution
St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario (Bay of Quinte, Newcastle Harbour); first reported from Ontario waters of the upper St. Lawrence River in April 2008
Photographs
Chain Pickerel photograph
Chain Pickerel photograph
Notes
hybrids with Northern Pike and Grass Pickerel are reported; tolerant of high water temperature (36.7°C) and low pH (3.8); sensitive to high pH
Information Sources
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