Other Freshwater
Bowfin
Amia calva
FreshwaterAmiidaeLeast Concern
About
The bowfin is a primitive ray-finned fish, often called a "living fossil" due to its ancient lineage. They possess a long, cylindrical body, a long dorsal fin, and a bony plate in their throat that aids in respiration, allowing them to gulp air at the surface.
- Average size
- 18-30 inches, 5-12 lbs
- Colors
- Olive green to brown with dark mottling. Males have a prominent black spot with a yellow or orange halo near the base of the tail.
- Diet
- Carnivorous; feeds on fish, crayfish, insects, and amphibians.
- Region
- Eastern North America, primarily in the Mississippi River basin, Great Lakes, and southeastern states.