---
title: "Northern Pikeminnow"
description: "Ptychocheilus oregonensis — Vissen. The Northern pikeminnow, Columbia River dace or colloquially squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) is a large member of the minnow family, Leuciscidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/nl/animal/northern-pikeminnow
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Northern Pikeminnow

> Ptychocheilus oregonensis — Vissen. The Northern pikeminnow, Columbia River dace or colloquially squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) is a large member of the minnow family, Leuciscidae.

- Scientific name: *Ptychocheilus oregonensis*
- Category: `fish` (Vissen)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Meren en rivieren)
- iNaturalist observations: 1489
- Wikidata: [Q143844](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q143844)
- iNaturalist taxon: [111224](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/111224)

## Names

- en: Northern Pikeminnow

## Countries with the most observations

US (757), CA (590)

## Summary

The Northern pikeminnow, Columbia River dace or colloquially squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) is a large member of the minnow family, Leuciscidae. This predatory freshwater fish is native to northwestern North America, ranging from the Nass River basin to the Columbia River basin. A good deal of concern has been expressed regarding the impact northern pikeminnow populations may have on salmon in Columbia and Snake River impoundments.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_pikeminnow

## Photo

![Northern Pikeminnow](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/northern-pikeminnow/medium.jpg)

Photo: taletendre · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/233623431

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/northern-pikeminnow?lang=nl` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).