Sander vitreus (Mitchill, 1818)
Walleye
Walleye,  Blue pike,  Dory,  Glass eye,  Gray pike,  Marble Eye,  Pike-perch,  Yellow pike-perch
Sander vitreus
photo by Scarola, J.F.

Family:  Percidae (Perches), subfamily: Luciopercinae
Max. size:  107 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 11 kg; max. reported age: 29 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; depth range 0 - 27 m, potamodromous
Distribution:  North America: St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Arctic, and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Northwest Territories in Canada, and south to Alabama and Arkansas in the USA; possibly native to Mobile Bay basin. Widely introduced elsewhere in the USA, including Atlantic and Pacific drainages.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-22; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 11-14; Vertebrae: 44-48. Nuptial tubercles absent. Differentiation of sexes difficult. Branchiostegal rays 7,7 or 7,8 (Ref. 1998).
Biology:  Occurs in lakes, pools, backwaters, and runs of medium to large rivers. Frequently found in clear water, usually near brush (Ref. 86798). Prefers large, shallow lakes with high turbidity (Ref. 9988, 10294). Rarely found in brackish waters (Ref. 1998). Feeds at night, mainly on insects and fishes (prefers yellow perch and freshwater drum but will take any fish available) but feeds on crayfish, snails, frogs, mudpuppies, and small mammals when fish and insects are scarce (Ref. 1998). Although not widely farmed commercially for consumption, large numbers are hatched and raised for stocking lakes for game fishing (Ref. 9988). Utilized fresh or frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Known from St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, and Mississippi River basins from Vermont and New Hampshire south to Alabama and Arkansas; possibly native to Mobile Bay basin (Ref. 86798). Widely introduced elsewhere, including Atlantic and Pacific drainages (Ref. 86798). Recorded from the entire Mississippi and Missouri basins (Ref. 10294). Collected from Mississippi River (Gulf of Mexico), Rock Island County, Illinois (Ref. 41482). Used almost exclusively for recreational fishing (Ref. 9988). Also Ref. 1998, 5723. Status of threat as Sander vitreus glaucus: extinct; status same as 1989. Criteria: 1,2,4 (http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/) (Ref. 81264).


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