Sauger

Sauger
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Subfamily: Luciopercinae
Genus: Sander
Species:
S. canadensis
Binomial name
Sander canadensis
(Griffith & Smith, 1834)
Synonyms[2]
  • Lucioperca canadensis Griffith & Smith, 1834
  • Stizostedion canadense (Griffith & Smith, 1834)

The sauger (Sander canadensis) is a freshwater perciform fish of the family Percidae that resembles its close relative, the walleye. The species is a member of the largest vertebrate order, the Perciformes.[3] It is the most migratory percid species in North America.[4] Saugers have two dorsal fins; the first is spiny and the posterior dorsal fin is soft-rayed. Their paired fins are in the thoracic position and their caudal fin is truncated, which means squared off at the corners, a characteristic of the family Percidae. Another physical characteristic of saugers is their ctenoid scales, which are common in advanced fishes. Saugers have a fusiform body structure, and as a result are well adapted predatory fishes and are capable of swimming into fast currents with minimal drag on their bodies. They may be distinguished from walleyes by the distinctly spotted dorsal fin, by the lack of a white splotch on the caudal fin, by the rough skin over their gills, and by their generally more brassy color, or darker (almost black) color in some regions. The typical sauger is 300 to 400 g (11 to 14 oz) in weight.

  1. ^ NatureServe (2013). "Sander canadensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T202604A18235203. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202604A18235203.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Sander canadensis". FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. ^ Jaeger, Matthew. 2004. Montana's Fish Species of Special Concern: Sauger. Montana Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit. http://www.fisheriessociety.org/AFSmontana/SSCpages/Sauger%20Status.htm. (Accessed May 2011).
  4. ^ Kuhn et al. 2008. Habitat Use and Movement Patterns by Adult Saugers from fall to Summer in an Unimpounded Small-River System. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 28: 360–367. American Fisheries Society. 2008.