AMRClearinghouse.org
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Clearinghouse … serving Pennsylvania watershed associations
a service of
WPCAMR
welcome &
introduction
land
reclamation
AMD
basics
watershed
basics
water
monitoring
organizations
& agencies
finding
help
out of
the box
picture
gallery
Scarlift
reports
AMD
treatment
organizing
partnerships
assessment & restoration laws &
policies
environmental
education
abandoned
mine posts

Water Monitoring

Biological Monitoring

Chemical Monitoring

Physical Monitoring

home

Common fish guide

 The following pictures are examples of fish commonly found in streams and creeks in Pennsylvania.  Fish shocking is a good way to capture and examine the fish in the watershed.

Black-nosed Dace

 

Sunfish

Sunfish come in many sizes and colors, but basically the same shape.  Many common sunfish, such as the Bluegill and Pumpkin seed have brightly colored earflaps beside their gills.  Most sunfish inhabit quiet, weedy ponds or mud-bottom streams.  Some are also found in rocky bottom streams.

Sucker

Suckers are

Brook Trout

Brook trout like cool, clear waters in lakes and large streams.  Normally, these fish are found in more turbulent areas, such as riffles.

Johnny Darter

The Johnny darter belongs to the perch family of fishes.  They are commonly found on the bottom of streams.  They settle to the bottom and dart forward occasionally.  Darters are extremely sensitive to pollution and will only inhabit clean water.

The above information taken from A Guide to Common Freshwater Animals part of the Environmental Education Leaflet Series #6 published by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Resources, Office of Resource Management and Bureau of State Parks.

Descriptions of the fish can be found in Reader's Digest North American Wildlife.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission hosts an online guide to Pennsylvania Fishes.