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The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.




Esox masquinongy
Esox masquinongy
(Muskellunge)
Fishes
Native Transplant

Copyright Info
Esox masquinongy Mitchill, 1824

Common name: Muskellunge

Synonyms and Other Names: Esox ohiensis Kirtland, 1854; Muskie, Musky

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.govITIS logo

Identification: Muskellunge, Esox masquinongy, are characterized by their elongate, moderately compressed and slightly flattened body. Oblique stripes, spots or blotches overlay the silver colored body, the belly is white in color with small spots. Fins are green or red-brown with dark blotches. The top of the head is unscaled and the snout is long and duckbill-like. The Muskellunge has a large mouth with strong canine teeth in its lower jaw and on the roof of its mouth. Its tongue features short, sharp brush-like teeth (Becker 1983).

Three subspecies are sometimes recognized: Esox masquinongy masquinongy, a spotted form which occurs in the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes and their tributaries; Esox masquinongy immaculatus, a form with either no pattern or barring which occurs in Wisconsin, Minnesota, northwestern Ontario, and southeastern Manitoba; and Esox masquinongy ohioensis, a form with bars or diffuse spots and blotches which occurs in the Ohio River and its tributaries (Becker 1983).

While similar in appearance to the Northern pike (Esox lucius), Muskellunge can often be distinguished from pike based on coloration. Additionally, Muskellunge have 6-9 sensory pores on each side of their lower jaw whereas Northern pike have 5 or less pores. Muskellunge also have relatively pointed tail fins relative to a Northern pike (Minnesota DNR 2017).  The hybrid Tiger muskie (Esox masquinongy x lucius) is also present in the Great Lakes region, these grow faster and larger than either of the parent species, are characterized by dark stripes on a lighter background, have 5-6 sensory pores and are otherwise intermediate between the two parents in shape and coloring.

Size: 183 cm.

Native Range: St. Lawrence River-Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins, from Quebec to southeastern Manitoba; south in the Appalachians to Georgia and in the west to Iowa (Page and Burr 1991). Crossman (1978) gave a distribution map. Although never reported from Mississippi, considering the fact that Muskellunge are (or were) native to the main Tennessee River, the species almost certainly historically entered the extreme northeastern part of that state (Gilbert, personal communication).

Native range data for this species provided in part by NatureServe NS logo
Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Nonindigenous Occurrences:

Table 1. States with nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Esox masquinongy are found here.

StateFirst ObservedLast ObservedTotal HUCs with observations†HUCs with observations†
AL199219961Lower Tallapoosa
AK201820181Upper Kenai Peninsula
AZ197519751Lower Colorado Region
AR197319883Bull Shoals Lake; North Fork White; Upper Ouachita
CA189318961San Francisco Coastal South
CO199319982Cache La Poudre; South Platte
CT185119962Outlet Connecticut River; Thames
DE196519671Brandywine-Christina
GA197119712Middle Tennessee-Chickamauga; Ocoee
IL1979202112Big Muddy; Copperas-Duck; Little Calumet-Galien; Lower Fox; Lower Illinois-Lake Chautauqua; Lower Rock; Mackinaw; Skillet; Spoon; Upper Fox; Upper Illinois; Upper Kaskaskia
IA194519956Little Sioux; Lower Iowa; Middle Des Moines; Skunk; Upper Chariton; Winnebago
KY198619866Licking; Licking; Middle Green; Obey; Rough; Upper Cumberland
ME198420183Headwaters Saint John River; New England Region; Saint Francis River-Saint John River
MD201120221Conococheague-Opequon
MA196919691New England Region
MI196219621Brule
MN198220012Red; St. Croix
MO1966199812Bourbeuse; Harry S. Truman Reservoir; Lake of the Ozarks; Lower Chariton; Lower Missouri-Moreau; Meramec; Niangua; Pomme De Terre; Upper Chariton; Upper Grand; Upper Mississippi-Cape Girardeau; Whitewater
NE195820006Lower Platte; Middle Niobrara; Middle North Platte-Scotts Bluff; Middle Platte-Buffalo; Missouri Region; Snake
NJ190020174Hackensack-Passaic; Mid-Atlantic Region; Middle Delaware-Musconetcong; Raritan
NY198519862Upper Susquehanna; Upper Susquehanna
NC197619945Roanoke; Roanoke Rapids; Upper Broad; Upper New; Upper Tennessee
ND198119998