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Esox masquinongy

Mitchill, 1824

Muskellunge

G5Secure Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102081
Element CodeAFCHD01030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderEsociformes
FamilyEsocidae
GenusEsox
Other Common Names
Maskinongé (FR)
Concept Reference
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Formerly not recognized as distinct from E. lucius. Also formerly regarded as comprising three distinct species (E. masquinongy, E. ohioensis, and E. immaculatus); later these were regarded as subspecies, which now are not considered nameworthy (Lee et al. 1980).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2015-08-17
Change Date1996-09-12
Edition Date2011-12-01
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Range Extent Comments
Native range includes the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to southeastern Manitoba and south to eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina (Page and Burr 2011). This fish has been introduced in numerous localities, including Atlantic Slope drainages south to southern Virginia, and southern and western U.S. (where introductions usually have not been successful) (Page and Burr 2011).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations). Kerr (2011) determined that this species occurs in 1,391 lakes, 376 rivers, and 99 reservoirs in North America. Almost 73 percent of North America's muskellunge waters are sustained by natural reproduction, but few jurisdictions rely solely on natural reproduction to provide fisheries (this is a highly prized trophy fish) (Kerr 2011).
Threat Impact Comments
Historically, habitat alteration, pollution, overexploitation, and increased abundance of northern pike caused declines in some areas (Kerr 2011).

Habitat loss/degradation, pollution, overexploitation,, non-native species, and diseases and pathogens are current management issues in some areas (Kerr 2011). Disease and pathogen issues are undoubtedly due to infections of muskellunge in the Great Lakes by piscirickettsia (musky pox) and viral hemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) over the past decade (Kerr 2011).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitat includes warm heavily vegetated lakes, stumpy weedy bays, pools and backwaters of creeks and small to large rivers with abundant vegetation; often in large lakes with both extensive deep and shallow basins and tributary streams (lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 2011). Spawning occurs in water less than 1 meter deep in heavily vegetated flooded areas. Eggs sink and stick to bottom or vegetation.

Ecology

Large adults normally sedentary and solitary.

Reproduction

Spawns in spring. Two clutches of eggs per year (Lebeau 1991). Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks. Sexually mature in 3-5 years.
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDSCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDFORESTED WETLAND
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IllinoisSNANo
District of ColumbiaSNANo
North DakotaSNANo
VermontS1Yes
South DakotaSNANo
KentuckyS4Yes
MaineSNRYes
IndianaS1Yes
New JerseySNANo
NebraskaSNANo
ArkansasSNANo
MarylandSNANo
DelawareSNANo
IowaS3Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
OhioS3Yes
New HampshireSNRYes
West VirginiaS4Yes
MichiganS4Yes
AlabamaSNANo
WisconsinS5Yes
PennsylvaniaS4Yes
MissouriSNANo
VirginiaSNANo
North CarolinaS3Yes
New YorkS3Yes
TennesseeS3Yes
GeorgiaSNANo
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
New BrunswickSNANo
QuebecS4Yes
OntarioS4Yes
ManitobaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource use———
5.4 - Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources———
7 - Natural system modifications———
7.2 - Dams & water management/use———
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases———
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases———
9 - Pollution———

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Roadless Areas (4)
Pennsylvania (2)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
Virginia (2)
AreaForestAcres
Hoop HoleJefferson National Forest4,652
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
References (29)
  1. Becker, G. C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 1,052 pp.
  2. Blimber, D.L. 1983. Longevity, growth, and mortality of muskellunge in Chautauqua Lake, New York. N. Y. Fish Game J. 29(2)(1982):134-141.
  3. Burr, B. M., and M. L. Warren, Jr. 1986a. Distributional atlas of Kentucky fishes. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Scientific and Technical Series No. 4, Frankfort, Kentucky. 398 pp.
  4. Burr, Brooks M. (Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University) and Donovan B. Henry. 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. June 2000.
  5. Cooper, E. L. 1983. Fishes of Pennsylvania and the northeastern United States. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park. 243 pp.
  6. Crossman, E. J. 1977. Displacement and home range movements of muskelunge determined by ultrasonic tracking. Environmental Biology of Fishes 1(2): 145-158.
  7. Crossman, E. J., and C. D. Goodchild. 1978. An annotated bibliography of the muskellunge, <i>Esox masquinongy</i> (Osteichthyes: Salmoniformes). Royal Ontario Mus.
  8. Dombeck, M.P. 1979. Movement and behavior of the muskelunge determined by radio-telemetry. Wis. Dep. Nat. Res. Tech. Bull. No. 113. 19 pp.
  9. Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. xiv + 681 pp.
  10. Fago, D. 2000. Relative abundance and distribution of fishes in Wisconsin. Fish Distribution Database to year 2000. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
  11. Hall, G. E., ed. 1986. Managing muskies: a treatise on the biology and propagation of muskellunge in North America. Am. Fisheries Soc., Spec. Publ. 15. Bethesda, Maryland. 372 pp.
  12. Harlan, J. R., E. B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.
  13. Kerr, S. J. 2011. Distribution and management of muskellunge in North America: an overview. Fisheries Policy Section, Biodiversity Branch. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Peterborough, Ontario. 22 pp. + appendices.
  14. Lang, Nicholas (Illinois Natural History Survey). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.
  15. Lebeau, B. 1991. Oocyte recruitment and spawning chronology in pike, <i>Esox lucius</i>, and muskellunge, <i>Esox masquinongy</i>. Canadian Journal of Zoology 69:2194-2201.
  16. Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
  17. Menhinick, E. F. 1991. The freshwater fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 227 pp.
  18. Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
  19. Oehmcke, A. A., L. Johnson, J. Klingbiel, and C. Wistrom. 1965. The Wisconsin muskellunge, its life history, ecology, and management. Wis. conserv. Dep. Publ. 225. 12 pp.
  20. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
  21. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
  22. Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
  23. Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
  24. Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
  25. Scott, W. B., and E. J. Crossman. 1973. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Bulletin 184. 966 pp.
  26. Smith, C. L. 1983. Fishes of New York (maps and printout of a draft section on scarce fishes of New York). Unpublished draft.
  27. Smith, P. W. 1979. The fishes of Illinois. University of Illinois Press, Urbana. 314 pp.
  28. Stauffer, J. R., Jr., J. M. Boltz, and L. R. White. 1995. The fishes of West Virginia. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 146:1-389.
  29. Trautman, M. B. 1981. The fishes of Ohio. Second edition. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, Ohio. 782 pp.