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Morone saxatilis (Walbaum, 1792)
Striped Bass
Family: Percocjthyidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

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Map

Source: Distribution of Morone saxatilis as compiled by Aquamaps

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 13

Source: FishBase. Heemstra, P.C. 1995 . (Ref. 9320)

Biology

Species Biology

Inhabit coastal waters and are commonly found in bays but may enter rivers in the spring to spawn (Ref. 2850). Some populations are landlocked (Ref. 7251). Voracious and opportunistic feeder (Ref. 5951). Larvae feed on zooplankton; juveniles take in small shrimps and other crustaceans, annelid worms, and insects (Ref. 1998, 10294); adults feed on a wide variety of fishes (alewives, herring, smelt, eels, flounders, mummichogs, rock gunnels, sand lance, silver hake and silversides (Ref. 5951)) and invertebrates (squid, crabs, sea worms and amphipods (Ref. 5951)), mainly crustaceans (Ref. 1998). Feeding ceases shortly before spawning (Ref. 1998). Environment: demersal; anadromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 30 - ? m (Ref. 2850) Climate: temperate; 8 – 25°C (Ref. 47172); 51°N - 24°N, 94°W - 44°W

Source: FishBase. Heemstra, P.C. 1995 . (Ref. 9320)

Distribution

Distribution

Western Atlantic: St. Lawrence River in Canada to St. John's River in northern Florida and northern Gulf of Mexico; from fresh and brackish tributaries of western Florida to Louisiana in the USA. Introduced to other countries.

Source: FishBase. Heemstra, P.C. 1995 . (Ref. 9320)

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Notes

Striped Bass is an anadromous species, so moves from freshwater to saltwater to complete its life cycle (COSEWIC 2004). This species was introduced in the estuary of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers in California and from there became established along the Pacific Coast (COSEWIC 2004).The species has now become established in British Columbia (NatureServe 2009).

Reference

COSEWIC. 2004. COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Striped Bass Morone saxatilis in Canada: Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Population, St. Lawrence Estuary Population, Bay of Fundy Population Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa.

NatureServe. 2009. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: August 19, 2009 ).

Additional Range and Status Information Links

NatureServe Explorer
 University of Alaska Museum

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