---
title: "What the sources say about the Northern Pike | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "33 claims from the Northern Pike profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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canonical: "https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/northern-pike/sources/"
---

# What the sources say about the Northern Pike (*Esox lucius*)

> 33 claims from the Northern Pike profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Northern Pike](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/northern-pike/)

## Esox lucius (American pike). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Esox_lucius/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A freshwater ambush predator that lies cocked in an S, then strikes with a sprint. | Considerd "sprint predators", E. lucius hide in some type of cover, cocked in an "S" position, ready to strike. (note: tagline; freshwater from FishBase/ADW habitat) |
| Lakes, ponds and rivers across northern North America and Eurasia | Esox lucius is native to North America and Eurasia. ... from cold deep lakes, to warm shallow ponds, to muddy rivers (note: stats.habitat) |
| Fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals and birds | predators of smaller fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals and birds (note: stats.diet) |
| Hides cocked in an S, then sprints to strike | hide in some type of cover, cocked in an "S" position, ready to strike (note: stats.superpower) |
| it hides in cover, bent into an S shape, ready to strike | hide in some type of cover, cocked in an "S" position, ready to strike |
| ADW calls it a "sprint predator" | Considerd "sprint predators", E. lucius hide in some type of cover |
| Its eyes are highly movable and can see in practically any direction, which is extremely important in tracking prey | Their eyes are highly movable and are able to see in practically any direction. This is extremely important in tracking their prey. |
| Add sharp teeth and a complex skull and jaw | Equipped with sharp teeth and very complex skull and jaw structures |
| Pike are top predators in the systems they inhabit, and they prey on smaller fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals and birds. | predators of smaller fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals and birds ... Northern pike are top predators in the systems they inhabit |
| ADW gives an average length of 46 to 51 cm and a mass range of 0.5 to 1.4 kg. | Northern pike average 46 to 51 cm (18-20 inches) in length. ... Range mass 0.5 to 1.4 kg |
| They are found in almost every type of freshwater, from cold deep lakes to warm shallow ponds to muddy rivers. | are found in almost every type of freshwater, from cold deep lakes, to warm shallow ponds, to muddy rivers |
| They are random spawners, not nest builders, and the eggs, which hatch in about 2 weeks, get no protection. | Northern pike are considered random spawners not nest builders. ... The eggs that survive hatch in about 2 weeks. ... Males remain in the spawning area for several weeks, but do not protect the eggs. |
| Pike show no parental involvement. | Parental Investment no parental involvement |
| Young pike have insatiable eating habits and grow rapidly in both length and weight. | With their insatiable eating habits young E. lucius grow rapidly in both length and weight. |
| It is typically a lurker that waits in some kind of cover, cocked into an S, and can attack quickly. | They are typically lurkers, but are able to attack quickly. ... hide in some type of cover, cocked in an "S" position, ready to strike. (note: FAQ) |
| Highly movable eyes help it track prey from almost any angle. | Their eyes are highly movable and are able to see in practically any direction. This is extremely important in tracking their prey. (note: FAQ) |
| Young pike face their own predators: the eggs, fry and young may be eaten by other predatory fish, aquatic birds, otters or the larvae of aquatic insects. | the eggs, fry, and young of northern pike may be eaten by other predatory fish, aquatic birds, otters, or by the larvae of aquatic insects |
| A northern pike waits in cover, cocked in an S, ready to strike | hide in some type of cover, cocked in an "S" position, ready to strike |

## Esox lucius, Northern pike. FishBase.

https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Esox-lucius.html

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| FishBase says adults feed mainly on fishes, and cannibalism is common. | Adults feed mainly on fishes, but at times feed heavily on frogs and crayfish (Ref. 27547 ). Cannibalism is common. |
| In arctic lakes a pike is sometimes the only fish species in the water. | In arctic lakes, it is sometimes the only species present in a given water body. |
| There, large individuals are mainly cannibals | In such cases, juveniles feed on invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates; large individuals are mainly cannibals |
| Other fish avoid pike feces because they contain alarm pheromones | Feces of pike are avoided by other fish because they contain alarm pheromones. |
| FishBase lists a maximum length of 150 cm for a female, a maximum published weight of 28.4 kg and a maximum reported age of 30 years. | 150.0 cm TL (female); ... common length :55 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 28.4 kg (Ref. 40637 ); max. published weight: 28.4 kg; max. reported age: 30 years |
| Pike are circumpolar in fresh water | Circumpolar in fresh water. |
| In North America they live from Labrador to Alaska and south to Pennsylvania and Nebraska. | North America: Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River basins from Labrador to Alaska and south to Pennsylvania and Nebraska, USA |
| FishBase gives a common length of 55 cm for females and 40 cm for males or unsexed fish. | common length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 556 ); common length :55 cm TL (female) (note: FAQ) |
| females can reach 150 cm, and the maximum published weight is 28.4 kg | 150.0 cm TL (female); ... max. published weight: 28.4 kg (note: FAQ) |

## Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758 (Northern Pike). USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.

https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=676

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| introduced pike can significantly reduce prey density and even eliminate species | The piscivorous Northern Pike has been shown to significantly reduce prey density and has the potential to cause large-scale changes in fish communities, even resulting in species elimination |
| In a 1990 University of Montana study, pike eliminated most other fishes except the pumpkinseed, which was likely protected by its deep body and stiff spines, making it difficult prey | A study conducted by T. Jones (University of Montana) in 1990, found Northern Pike eliminated most other fishes except for the pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus , which was likely protected by its deep body shape and stiff spines, making it difficult prey |
| The USGS says pike have been shown to cut prey numbers sharply, with the potential to wipe out species. | has been shown to significantly reduce prey density and has the potential to cause large-scale changes in fish communities, even resulting in species elimination (note: FAQ) |
| A 1990 University of Montana study found pike had removed most other fish except pumpkinseed. | A study conducted by T. Jones (University of Montana) in 1990, found Northern Pike eliminated most other fishes except for the pumpkinseed (note: FAQ) |

## Ford (2024). Esox lucius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T135631A221207099.

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2024-2.rlts.t135631a221207099.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Least Concern | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). (note: status; GBIF copy of the Red List, taxon 135631) |
| The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern. | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). |