The state of West Virginia has a wide variety of freshwater fish species in its rivers, lakes, and streams.
[1] The following letters indicate the river systems that contain each species: In addition, the IUCN classifies one of these species as critically endangered CR, one as endangered EN, five as vulnerable VU, and three as near-threatened NT.
Family Petromyzontidae (northern lampreys) Family Acipenseridae (sturgeons) Family Polyodontidae (paddlefishes) Family Lepisosteidae (gars) Family Amiidae (bowfin) Family Hiodontidae (mooneyes) Family Anguillidae (freshwater eels) Family Clupeidae (herrings, shads, and relatives) Family Cyprinidae (carps, true minnows, and relatives) Family Catostomidae (suckers) Family Ictaluridae (ictalurid catfishes) Family Esocidae (pikes) Family Umbridae (mudminnows) Family Salmonidae (trout) Family Percopsidae (trout-perch) Family Fundulidae (topminnows) Family Poeciliidae (livebearers) Family Atherinopsidae (neotropical silversides) Family Gasterosteidae (sticklebacks) Family Cottidae (sculpins) Family Moronidae (temperate basses) Family Centrarchidae (sunfishes) Family Percidae (perches, darters, and relatives) Family Sciaenidae (drums) Acipenser fulvescens 13°[12] 55°[12] 18°[12] 64°[12] Alosa chrysochloris 16[13] 60.8 21 70 Amia calva 16°[14] 61°[14] 19°[14] 66°[14] Ctenopharyngodon idella 20[15][16] 68[15][16] 30[15][16] 86[15][16] Ichthyomyzon greeleyi 18.9°[17] 66°[17] Ichthyomyzon unicuspis 10° 50° Lepisosteus osseus 20°[18] 68°[18] Lethenteron appendix 15°[19] 59°[19] Luxilus cornutus 16[20] 61[20] 26[20] 79[20] Macrhybopsis storeriana 19[21] 66[21] Notropis atherinoides 22.2[22] 72[22] Females in Canada have a wider range of preferred breeding temperatures.
[23] Nocomis micropogon 16[24] 19[24] Notropis procne 25.6 78.1 Notropis stramineus 27 [25][26] 81[25] 37[25] 99[25] Pimephales promelas 18[27] 64[27] Polyodon spathula 13°[28] 55°[28] 16°[28] 60°[28] Rhinichthys cataractae 14[29] 57[29] 19[29] 66[29] Carpiodes carpio 18.3 65 19.1 66.4 Carpiodes cyprinus 7 44.6 18 64.4 Carpiodes velifer 17 63 Cycleptus elongatus 12[30] 53[30] Erimyzon oblongus 12[31] 53.6[31] 24[31] 75.2[31] Hypentelium nigricans 15 59 Ictiobus cyprinellus 13[32] 55.4 26[32] 78.8 Ictiobus niger 19[33] 66.2 24[33] 75.2 Minytrema melanops 12 [34] 53.6 [34] 19 [34] 66.2 [34] Moxostoma anisurum 11.7[35] 53[35] Moxostoma duquesnei 15 59 21 69.8 Moxostoma erythrurum 17[36] 62.6[36] 22[36] 71.6[36] Moxostoma macrolepidotum 7[37] 44.6[37] 16[37] 60.8[37] Ameiurus catus 18.3[38] 65[38] 23.9[38] 75[38] Noturus flavus 25 77 Noturus stigmosus 23[39] 73.4[39] In Canada, the juveniles are found mainly in areas with a water temperature between 19.5 and 28 °C.
[39] Esox americanus americanus 4[40] 39[40] 18.3[40] 65[40] Esox lucius 9[41] 48[41] Umbra limi 13[42] 55.4[42]