List of fishes of West Virginia

The state of West Virginia has a wide variety of freshwater fish species in its rivers, lakes, and streams. 20% of these species are sportfish, and the remaining 80% are nongame species.

The taxa
The following letters indicate the river systems that contain each species:

In addition, the IUCN classifies one of these species as critically endangered, one as endangered , five as vulnerable , and three as near-threatened.

Order Petromyzontiformes (lampreys)
Family Petromyzontidae (northern lampreys)
 * Ohio lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium) O, rare
 * Northern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor) O, rare
 * Mountain brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon greeleyi) O, rare
 * Silver lamprey (Ichthyomyzon unicuspis) O, rare
 * Least brook lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera) O,N
 * American brook lamprey (Lethenteron appendix) O, rare

Order Acipenseriformes (sturgeons and paddlefish)
Family Acipenseridae (sturgeons)
 * Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) O, extinct in West Virginia
 * Shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) O,

Family Polyodontidae (paddlefishes)
 * American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) O, rare,

Order Lepisosteiformes (gars)
Family Lepisosteidae (gars)
 * Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) O

Order Amiiformes (bowfin)
Family Amiidae (bowfin)
 * Bowfin (Amia calva) O, rare

Order Hiodontiformes (mooneyes)
Family Hiodontidae (mooneyes)
 * Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) O, rare
 * Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus) O

Order Anguilliformes (eels)
Family Anguillidae (freshwater eels)
 * American eel (Anguilla rostrata) O,N,P,

Order Clupeiformes (herrings and relatives)
Family Clupeidae (herrings, shads, and relatives)
 * Skipjack shad (Alosa chrysochloris) O
 * Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) O,N,P
 * American gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) O
 * Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) O

Order Cypriniformes (carps, minnows, and relatives)
Family Cyprinidae (carps, true minnows, and relatives)
 * Central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) O,N,P,J
 * Goldfish (Carassius auratus) O,N,P, introduced
 * Redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus) O, rare
 * Rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides) O,N,P,J
 * Satinfin shiner (Cyprinella analostana) P, rare
 * Whitetail shiner (Cyprinella galactura) O,N
 * Spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera) O,N,P
 * Steelcolor shiner (Cyprinella whipplei) O
 * Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) O,N,P, introduced,
 * Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) O,N,P
 * Bighead carp (Hypopthalmichthys nobilis) O
 * Streamline chub (Erimystax dissimilis) O,N
 * Tonguetied minnow (Exoglossum laurae) O,N, rare
 * Cutlips minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua) N,P,J
 * Eastern silvery minnow (Hybognathus regius) P, rare
 * Mississippi silvery minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) O, extinct in West Virginia
 * Bigeye chub (Hybopsis amblops) O
 * White shiner (Luxilus albeolus) O,N
 * Striped shiner (Luxilus chrysocephalus) O,N,P
 * Common shiner (Luxilus cornutus) O,P,J
 * Rosefin shiner (Lythrurus ardens) J, rare
 * Scarlet shiner (Lythrurus fasciolaris) O, rare
 * Redfin shiner (Lythrurus umbratilis) O
 * Shoal chub (Macrhybopsis hyostoma) O
 * Silver chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana) O
 * Allegheny pearl dace (Margariscus margarita) O,P, rare
 * Hornyhead chub (Nocomis biguttatus) O, extinct in West Virginia
 * Bluehead chub (Nocomis leptocephalus) N,P,J
 * River chub (Nocomis micropogon) O,P,J
 * Bigmouth chub (Nocomis platyrhynchus) N
 * Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) O,N,P,J
 * Comely shiner (Notropis amoenus) P
 * Popeye shiner (Notropis ariommus) O, rare
 * Emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides) O,N,P
 * River shiner (Notropis blennius) O
 * Bigeye shiner (Notropis boops) O, rare
 * Ghost shiner (Notropis buchanani) O
 * Bigmouth shiner (Notropis dorsalis) O, extinct in West Virginia
 * Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) O,N,P
 * Sand shiner (Notropis stramineus) O,N
 * Silver shiner (Notropis photogenis) O,N
 * Swallowtail shiner (Notropis procne) P
 * Rosyface shiner (Notropis rubellus) O,N,P,J
 * New River shiner (Notropis scabriceps) N, rare
 * Telescope shiner (Notropis telescopus) O,N,J
 * Mimic shiner (Notropis volucellus) O,N,P
 * Channel shiner (Notropis wickliffi) O
 * Silverjaw minnow (Ericymba buccata) O,N,P
 * Pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) O, extinct in West Virginia
 * Suckermouth minnow (Phenacobius mirabilis) O
 * Kanawha minnow (Phenacobius teretulus) N, rare
 * Southern redbelly dace (Chrosomus erythrogaster) O
 * Mountain redbelly dace (Chrosomus oreas) O,N,J
 * Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus) O,N,P
 * Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) O,N,P
 * Bullhead minnow (Pimephales vigilax) O, rare
 * Eastern blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) O,P,J
 * Western blacknose dace (Rhinichthys obtusus) O,N
 * Cheat minnow (Pararhinichthys bowersi) O, rare
 * Longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) O,N,P,J
 * Common rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) N
 * Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) O,N,P,J
 * Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) P

Family Catostomidae (suckers)
 * River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) O
 * Quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus) O
 * Highfin carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer) O, rare
 * Longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus) O, extinct in West Virginia
 * White sucker (Catostomus commersonii) O,N,P,J
 * Blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) O, rare
 * Creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus) P
 * Northern hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans) O,N,P,J
 * Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) O
 * Bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) O, rare
 * Black buffalo (Ictiobus niger) O, rare
 * Spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops) O
 * Silver redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum) O
 * River redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum) O
 * Black redhorse (Moxostoma duquesnei) O
 * Golden redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum) O,N,P
 * Smallmouth redhorse (Moxostoma breviceps) O
 * Shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum) P, rare
 * Torrent sucker (Thoburnia rhothoeca) N,P

Order Siluriformes (catfishes)
Family Ictaluridae (ictalurid catfishes)
 * White bullhead (Ameiurus catus) O
 * Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) O,N
 * Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) O,N,P
 * Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) O,N,P
 * Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) O
 * Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) O,N,P
 * Mountain madtom (Noturus eleutherus) O, rare
 * Stonecat (Noturus flavus) O,N
 * Margined madtom (Noturus insignis) O,N,P,J
 * Brindled madtom (Noturus miurus) O
 * Northern madtom (Noturus stigmosus) O, rare,
 * Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) O,N

Order Esociformes (pikes and mudminnows)
Family Esocidae (pikes)
 * Redfin pickerel (Esox a. americanus) O,P, rare
 * Grass pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) O, rare
 * Northern pike (Esox lucius) O,P
 * Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) O,N,P
 * Tiger muskellunge (Esox masquinongy x lucius) O,N,P
 * Chain pickerel (Esox niger) O,N,P

Family Umbridae (mudminnows)
 * Central mudminnow (Umbra limi) O

Order Salmoniformes (trout)
Family Salmonidae (trout)
 * Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) P, introduced
 * Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) O,N,P,J, introduced
 * Brown trout (Salmo trutta) O,N,J,P, introduced
 * Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) O,N,J,P

Order Percopsiformes (trout-perch)
Family Percopsidae (trout-perch)
 * Trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus) O

Order Cyprinodontiformes (toothcarps)
Family Fundulidae (topminnows)
 * Northern studfish (Fundulus catenatus) O
 * Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) O,P, rare
 * Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) P

Family Poeciliidae (livebearers)
 * Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) O,N,P

Order Atheriniformes (silversides)
Family Atherinopsidae (neotropical silversides)
 * Brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus) O,N,P

Order Gasterosteiformes (sticklebacks)
Family Gasterosteidae (sticklebacks)
 * Brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) O

Order Scorpaeniformes (mail-cheeked fishes)
Family Cottidae (sculpins)
 * Mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii) O,N,J
 * Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum) P,J
 * Slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) P, rare
 * Potomac sculpin (Cottus girardi) P
 * Kanawha sculpin (Cottus kanawhae) N, rare
 * Bluestone sculpin (Cottus sp.) N

Order Perciformes (sunfishes and perches)
Family Moronidae (temperate basses)
 * White perch (Morone americana) O
 * White bass (Morone chrysops) O,N
 * Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) O,N
 * Hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x saxatilis) O

Family Centrarchidae (sunfishes)
 * Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) O,N,J,P
 * Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) O,N,J,P
 * Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) O,N,J,P
 * Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) O,N,J,P
 * Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) O,P
 * Orangespotted sunfish (Lepomis humilis) O
 * Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) O,N,J,P
 * Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) O,N,P
 * Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) O
 * Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) O,N,J,P
 * Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) O,N
 * Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) O,N,J,P
 * White crappie (Pomoxis annularis) O,N,P
 * Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) O,N,P

Family Percidae (perches, darters, and relatives)
 * Eastern sand darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) O
 * Western sand darter (Ammocrypta clara) O, rare,
 * Diamond darter (Crystallaria cincotta) O, rare,
 * Greenside darter (Etheostoma blennioides) O,N,P
 * Rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) O,N,P
 * Bluebreast darter (Etheostoma camurum) O
 * Fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare) O,N,P,J
 * Longfin darter (Etheostoma longimanum) J, rare
 * Spotted darter (Etheostoma maculatum) O, rare,
 * Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) O,N,J
 * Tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) P
 * Candy darter (Etheostoma osburni) N, rare,
 * Snubnose darter (Etheostoma simoterum) N
 * Tippecanoe darter (Etheostoma tippecanoe) O,
 * Variegate darter (Etheostoma variatum) O,N
 * Banded darter (Etheostoma zonale) O
 * Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) O,N,P
 * Common logperch (Percina caprodes) O,N
 * Channel darter (Percina copelandi) O
 * Gilt darter (Percina evides) O, rare
 * Appalachia darter (Percina gymnocephala) N, rare
 * Longhead darter (Percina macrocephala) O, rare
 * Blackside darter (Percina maculata) O,N
 * Stripeback darter (Percina notogramma) J, rare
 * Sharpnose darter (Percina oxyrhynchus) O,N
 * Shield darter (Percina peltata) P
 * Slenderhead darter (Percina phoxocephala) O
 * Roanoke darter (Percina roanoka) N
 * Dusky darter (Percina sciera) O
 * River darter (Percina shumardi) O, rare
 * Sauger (Sander canadensis) O
 * Walleye (Sander vitreus) O,N,P
 * Saugeye (Sander canadensis x vitreus) O

Family Sciaenidae (drums)
 * Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) O