Key to the fishes of the National Capital Region

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article by Brian W. Coad
Canadian Museum of Nature
Trail & Landscape 2001; 35(3): 133-166
$2 (see ordering information and mailing costs)

Two earlier publications on fishes of the Ottawa region exist — Fishes of Canada's National Capital Region/Poissons de la région de la capitale du Canada by D.E. McAllister and B.W. Coad (1975) and "Checklist of the fishes of the Ottawa District" by B.W. Coad (Trail & Landscape 21(1) 1987. However, neither provided an identification key. Although certain species in the region are very distinctive and recognizable at a glance, other are superficially similar. Keys provide a structured means to identify all the species, especially for one who is new to the fish fauna.

In additons to a list of the 75 species found in the Ottawa region, this 33-page article contains keys to

• the families of fishes
• adult Petromyzontidae (Lampreys)
• larval Petromyzontidae (Lampreys)
• Cyprinidae (Carps)
• Catostomidae (Suckers)
• Ictaluridae (Bullhead Catfishes)
• Esocidae (Pikes)
• Osmeridae (Smelts)
• Salmonidae (Salmons)
• Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks)
• Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
• Percidae (Perches)

The keys are supplemented with illustrations of diagnostic features.