Louisiana State Fish
White Crappie (common name) Pomoxis annularis (scientific name) Overview The white crappie, or white perch, was designated the official freshwater fish of Louisiana in 1993. It is a thick silver and green fish in the sunfish family that is very popular with game fisherman.Pomoxis, the genus name, is Greek for "sharp" and refers to the fish's six spines on its dorsal fins. The species name annularis is Latin for "ringed" and refers to the dark vertical bands around the fish’s body. The crappie hides in cooler shaded areas during the day and feeds in schools, primary at dawn and dusk. The crappie is prolific and can push out other more highly prized species where it is introduced. Close-up STATUS Official PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Up to 21 in (53 cm); average of 12 in (30 cm) Weight: Up to 5.2 lbs (2.4 kg); average of 1 lbs (450 g) LIFESPAN Up to 10 years HABITAT Warm, slow-moving, silted rivers and lakes Range: West of the Appalachian Mountains to central Texas, north to eastern Canada, south to the Gulf of Mexico. Widely introduced in the western U.S. Water type: Freshwater Water temp: 70-75°F (21-24°C) Conservation Status: Secure DIET Plankton, small fish, fish eggs, crayfish, and aquatic insect larvae. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Spring Mating behavior: Distinct pairing Egg laying: Males will dig a nest in sand or gravel at a depth of 3–10 feet (1–3 m) and then wait for females to lay their eggs. Females will distribute their eggs across several male nests. USES Game fish OTHER NAMES Papermouth, speckled perch, bachelor perch, silver bass, croppie, white perch, chinquapin, crapet, sac-a-lait TRIVIA In southern Louisiana, the fish is called a sac-a-lait (literally "bag of milk") by Cajuns because the phrase rhymes with crapet.
	Click to enlarge an image White Crappie White Crappie in Natural Habitat White Crappie About to Be Released CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Centrarchidae Genus: Pomoxis Species: P. annularis
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press