# Black Crappie

*Pomoxis nigromaculatus*

They are colloquially known as 'paper mouths' because their mouth membranes are so thin and delicate that fishing hooks can easily tear through them.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Actinopterygii › Centrarchiformes › Centrarchidae › Pomoxis
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** aquatic
- **Habitat:** Clear, vegetated lakes, ponds, and slow-moving river backwaters with submerged logs or brush piles.
- **Diet:** Carnivorous; primarily feeds on small fish like minnows and shad, as well as aquatic insects and crustaceans.
- **Range:** United States, Southern Canada
- **Size:** Typically 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) and 1-2 lbs; can reach up to 19 inches in ideal conditions.
- **Lifespan:** 7-15 years
- **Active:** crepuscular
- **Threats:** Habitat degradation through siltation, loss of aquatic vegetation, and chemical runoff from agriculture.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. When handling for catch-and-release, be wary of the sharp dorsal spines which can prick the skin. Use wet hands to protect their protective slime coat and return them quickly to the water.

## About

The black crappie ( Pomoxis nigromaculatus ) is a freshwater fish found in North America, one of the two crappies. It is very similar to the white crappie in size, shape, and habits, except that it is darker, with a pattern of black spots.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/01898819-af2b-483c-a6d5-f0c94825643a
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/49594
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/441025140/medium.jpg (Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), PD, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.