Silver fish with dark speckles, a tall body, and a rounded tail.

Black crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Where at Shedd?
At Home on the Great Lakes
Diet Small crustaceans, larvae and fishes
Size Length: Up to 19.3 inches (49 cm); common length 10.8 inches (27.5 cm)
Type Fishes
Range Southeast Canada and Eastern United States. Widely introduced to other areas of North America
Habitat Lakes, streams and rivers

Did you know?

  1. Both black and white crappie are speckled fish—sometimes hard to tell apart—but the black crappie is slightly darker.
  2. Razorback and high-finned bass—both are common names for the black crappie, owing to its large flashy fins, thin body and tall profile.

IUCN Red List Conservation Status