Species Hierarchy
Kingdom ANIMAL (ANIMALIA)
Phylum BACKBONED ANIMALS (CHORDATA)
Class FISH - BONEY (TELEOSTOMI)
Order SALMON AND PIKES (SALMONIFORMES)
Family PIKES (ESOCIDAE)
Common name: MUSKY - MUSKELLUNGE
Scentific name: ESOX MASQUINONGY

AQUARIUM - SIDE VIEW
Location: MILWAUKEE ZOO, WISCONSIN, USA

Species Info:

This lifeform is found north of the Mason Dixon line in North America. Parts of this lifeform are edible. This lifeform is scarce.

Musky, Esox masquinongy, is only native to a small area in the  United States including parts of northern Wisconsin and parts of the upper peninsula of Michigan. Whether examples in upstate New York (and  other areas) were originally stocked or native is open to conjecture. However, because of its large size, good eating, and great sporting challenge, this species is being stocked in northern lakes and as far south as Missouri. This species can grow to at least five feet in length and weigh over seventy pounds. Muskies can be recognized by the dark pattern of bars on their light colored side and their tremendous size.

Pikes, Family Esocidae, are a small family of only five species  found in the Northern Hemisphere. They are characterized by  having a long narrow appearance, with a large wide mouth and  usually a flattened head. They are found only in freshwater.

Salmon Group, Order Salmoniformes, is found worldwide in oceans. It is also found in freshwater in many places in North America. A great number of the large game and sport fish are found in this order.

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that  include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They  are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are  found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

 

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AQUARIUM - SIDE VIEW

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AQUARUM VIEW OF YOUNG FISH (30 INCHES?)

 


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