Ptychocheilus oregonensis: the largest carp in North America
by Ariana Wilson
There is one fish that has been stressing scientists along the Pacific Northwest and Northern California — the unassuming pike minnow. Due to its approachable-sounding name, one may infer that it is a small fish no bigger than your hand. The largest reported northern pikeminnow according to the International Game Fish Association world record was seven pounds and 14 ounces. Its counterpart, the Colorado pikeminnow, is the largest North American minnow and is an endangered native of the Colorado River.
It has not always been known by its current name. In 1999, the American Fisheries Society made a significant change. They renamed the four species from their original derogatory term to the more respectful ‘northern pikeminnow.’ This change was made to respect the cultural sensitivity of the Native American community, as the term was originally an ethnic slur for Native American women.
At around six years, female northern pikeminnow can reach sexual maturity and lay tens of thousands of eggs annually. Meanwhile, their male counterparts need only about half that time to mature. Northern pikeminnows are skilled predators, spending most of their time scouring the rivers along the west for salmon, which make up a large part of their diet.
Pikeminnows are native to California but not local waterways like the Eel River. In Pacific Northwest rivers like the Columbia River, the northern pikeminnow population has seen a significant increase with the development of the hydropower system. This system, while beneficial for energy production, has inadvertently provided an advantage for the pikeminnows over the already struggling salmon and steelhead populations, disrupting the ecological balance.
Northern pikeminnows are of least concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species and are considered invasive in some areas.
Ari is a senior journalism major and the science editor this semester, with an adoration for the environment and conservation. She is currently pursuing her scientific diving certification and plans to meld her journalistic passions with scientific research in the future. For any science inquiries, please contact ajw167@humboldt.edu.