Freshwater Fishes
More than 15,000 species of freshwater fishes are part of healthy rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands around the world.
Spotlight on Sturgeon
Unbelievable lives in your backyard! The lake sturgeon is a Great Lakes native—and a living fossil, first appearing in the fossil record some 136 million years ago.
Studying the "Wildebeest of the Great Lakes"
When you hear the word "migration," you probably think of birds, but fish migrate too. Since 2017, Shedd's Director of Freshwater Research Dr. Karen Murchie has been studying the migration patterns of suckers, which she fondly refers to as the "wildebeests of the Great Lakes."
“There are so many amazing fish that live in fresh waters. I’ve always been happy to share so many fish species that rely on these environments to sustain life.”
Erica Hornbrook, Senior Director of Animal Care and Sustainability
Tambaqui
Clouded Archerfish
Paddlefish
Violet-Line Piranha
Moonlight gourami
Lungfish
Cichlid
Arapaima
Red-bellied Piranha