Fish

The largest fish entered in the Ohio State Record Fish List is a flathead catfish. It was caught in Clendening Lake and weighed 76.5 pounds.  Its length was 58 5/8 inches. 

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHSv), a virus that causes disease in fish but does not pose any threat to public health, was confirmed present in muskellunge sampled during routine egg collection in Clear Fork Reservoir in late April.

Biologists age fish in two ways – either by counting the rings on scales (just like aging a tree) or more precisely, by studying otoliths (ear bones).

Once again this year, visitors to Lowe-Volk Park pond have sighted freshwater jellyfish!  When active, they can be seen in the water off the wheelchair accessible dock.  They are about the size of a dime but look just like ocean jellyfish.

There are over 30,000 known species of fish.

Although jellyfish, crayfish and starfish have the word ‘fish’ in their name, they aren’t actually fish.

Over 1000 fish species are threatened by extinction.

Since a fish’s jaw is not attached to its skull, many fishes can shoot their mouths forward like a spring to catch startled prey.

Electric eels and electric rays have enough electricity to kill a horse.

A fish can drown in water. Like humans, fish need oxygen, so if there isn’t enough oxygen in the water, they will suffocate.  This has become a particular issue in Lake Erie where algal blooms can cause a lack of oxygen in the water called hypoxia.