Article by Brian W. Coad
Canadian Museum of Nature
Trail & Landscape 2001; 35(3): 133-166
Available on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website
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.