Walleye

Language English

Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

The walleye has a long, stocky body. It is olive brown, flecked with dark yellow on the back and paler yellow on the flanks. It has a black spot at the base of its first dorsal fin, which is also spiny. It has a large mouth and sharp teeth, and large, shiny eyes.

Reproduction

These fish reach sexual maturity at three to eight years, depending on their environment and sex. They spawn in spring or early summer, in shallow running water that is well oxygenated, over gravel bottoms. The female produces up to 612,000 eggs at a time.

Diet

They are not choosy eaters, feeding on a wide variety of fish, amphibians and even small mammals. They feed when light levels are low, to protect their sensitive eyes.

Predators

The enemies of the adults are northern pike, muskellunge and humans. The young are eaten by many different kinds of fish.

Habitat

Walleye live in large lakes and rivers and shallow rivers, preferably in turbid water.

Ecology, behaviour

Some stocks of walleye have suffered dramatically from acid rain and toxic waste accumulating in the lakes where they live. Overfishing and destruction of spawning grounds also threaten the species.

French name

Doré jaune

Scientific name

Sander vitreus

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Osteichthyes (bony fish)

Order

Perciformes

Family

Percidae

Size

Length: 30 to 50 cm

Weight

0.9 to 1.7 kg

Life span

10 to 12 years in the south and up to 20 years in the north

Status

Common species; fished for sport.

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