Muskellunge

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"Muskie" redirects here. For other uses, see Muskie (disambiguation).

Muskellunge (Muskie)

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Esociformes
Family: Esocidae
Genus: Esox
Species:
E. masquinongy
Binomial name
Esox masquinongy
Mitchill
, 1824

The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), often shortened to muskie, musky, ski, or lunge, is a species of large freshwater predatory fish native to North America. It is the largest member of the pike family, Esocidae.

Origin of name

The name "muskellunge" originates from the Ojibwe words maashkinoozhe (meaning "great fish"), mji-gnoozhe, maskinoše, or mashkinonge, meaning "bad pike", "big pike", or "ugly pike[3]" respectively. The Algonquin word maskinunga, which is borrowed into the Canadian French words masquinongé or maskinongé. In English, before settling on the common name "muskellunge", there have been at least 94 common names[4] applied to this species, including but not limited to: muskelunge, muscallonge, muskallonge, milliganong, maskinonge, maskalonge, mascalonge, maskalung, muskinunge and masquenongez.[5]

Description

A spotted muskellunge caught in Lake St. Clair during winter.

Muskellunge closely resemble other

sensory pores on the underside of the mandible. A muskie will have seven or more per side, while the northern pike never has more than six. The lobes of the caudal (tail) fin in muskellunge come to a sharper point, while those of northern pike are more generally rounded. In addition, unlike pike, muskies have no scales on the lower half of their opercula.[citation needed
]

Anglers seek large muskies as trophies or for sport.[9] In places where muskie are not native, such as in Maine, anglers are encouraged not to release the fish back into the water because of their negative impact on native populations of trout and other smaller fish species.[10]

Habitat

Muskellunge are found in

Pineview Reservoir in Utah is one of three Utah locations where the hybrid Tiger muskellunge is found.[citation needed
]

They prefer clear waters where they lurk along weed edges, rock outcrops, or other structures to rest. A fish forms two distinct home ranges in summer: a shallow range and a deeper one. The shallow range is generally much smaller than the deeper range due to shallow water heating up. A muskie continually patrols the ranges in search of available food in the appropriate conditions of water temperature.[citation needed]

Diet

Muskies are ambush predators who will swiftly bite their prey and then swallow it head first. Muskellunge are the top predator in any body of water where they occur and they will eat larger prey than most other freshwater fish.

dogs and even humans, although most of these reports are greatly exaggerated.[12]

Length and weight

Graph showing weight–length relationship for muskellunge

As muskellunge grow longer they increase in weight, but the relationship between length and weight is not linear. The relationship between them can be expressed by a power-law equation:

The exponent b is close to 3.0 for all species, and c is a constant for each species. For muskellunge, b = 3.325, higher than for many common species, and c = 0.000089 pounds per cubic inch or 0.0025 g/cm3.[14]

According to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) the largest muskellunge on record was caught by Cal Johnson in Lac Courte Oreilles (recognized as Lake Courte Oreilles by the association), Hayward, Wisconsin, United States, on July 24, 1949. The fish weighed 30.5 kg (67 lb 8 oz) and was 153 cm (60.25 inches) in length, and 84–86 cm (33–34 inches) in girth.[15][16][17]

Behavior

Illustration of a Muskellunge

Muskellunge are sometimes

yolk until the mouth is fully developed, when they begin to feed on copepods and other zooplankton. They soon begin to prey upon fish. Juveniles generally attain a length of 30 cm (12 inches) by November of their first year.[citation needed
]

Predators

Adult muskellunge are

bass, trout, and occasionally birds of prey. The muskellunge's low reproductive rate and slow growth render populations highly vulnerable to overfishing. This has prompted some jurisdictions to institute artificial propagation programs in an attempt to maintain otherwise unsustainably high rates of angling effort and habitat destruction.[citation needed
]

Subspecies and hybrids

Though interbreeding with other pike species can complicate the classification of some individuals, zoologists usually recognize up to three subspecies of muskellunge.[20]

  • The Great Lakes Muskellunge or Spotted Muskellunge (E. m. masquinongy) is the most common variety in the Great Lakes basin and surrounding area. The spots on the body form oblique rows.[citation needed]
  • The Chautauqua Muskellunge or Barred Muskellunge (E. m. ohioensis) is known from the Ohio River system, Chautauqua Lake, Lake Ontario, and the St Lawrence River.[citation needed]
  • The Clear Muskellunge (E. m. immaculatus) is most common in the inland lakes of Wisconsin, Minnesota, northwestern Ontario, and southeastern Manitoba.[citation needed]

The tiger muskellunge (E. masquinongy × lucius or E. lucius × masquinongy) is a hybrid of the muskie and northern pike. Hybrids are sterile, although females sometimes unsuccessfully engage in spawning motions. Some hybrids are artificially produced and planted for anglers to catch. Tiger muskies grow faster than pure muskies, but do not attain the ultimate size of their pure relatives, as the tiger muskie does not live as long.[citation needed]

Attacks on humans

Although very rare, muskie attacks on humans do occur on occasion.[21][22]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202401A15363615.en
    . Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Esox masquinongy". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Pete D. (October 11, 2020). "U.S. Angler". USAngler. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019.
  4. ^ "The muskellunge – What's in a name?". Muskies Canada. 2019.
  5. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Esox masquinongy" in FishBase. February 2023 version.
  6. ^ "DNR - Muskellunge, Esox masquinongy". Michigan.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  7. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2011). "Esox masquinongy" in FishBase. 9 2011 version.
  8. ^ "Martin Arthur Williamson - Muskellunge".
  9. ^ Heiting, Steve (March 20, 2014). "Tactics for Fishing Early-Season Muskies". Outdoor Life Magazine. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "Illegal Fish Introductions in Maine". Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  11. ^ "MUSKELLUNGE MANAGEMENT PLAN". Maine.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d "Esox masquinongy". Animal Diveresity.
  13. ^ Simonson, Tim. "Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  14. ISBN 1-888569-00-X
    .
  15. ^ "IGFA World Records". International Game Fish Association. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "Cal Johnson's World Record Catch". www.caljohnson.net. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  17. ^ "Cal Johnson's Own story". www.musky.com. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  18. PMID 24871329
    .
  19. ^ "St. Croix surprise: Bald eagle reels in large muskie". Pioneer Press. August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  20. ^ Grant, UW Sea. "Fish and Fisheries". Seagrant.wisc.edu. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  21. ^ Unger, Danton (July 31, 2020) [Originally published 30 July 2020]. "CTV News: 'I came back up screaming': Winnipeg woman recovering after gruesome Muskie attack". CTV News. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  22. ^ Musky Attacks Manitoba Woman (Full Interview). July 31, 2020. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021 – via YouTube.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muskellunge&oldid=1220416924"