Species profile
Ruddy Bowfin
Amia calva
Identify Ruddy Bowfin (Amia calva) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app. Plus current fishing rules across 13 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Ruddy Bowfin (Amia calva) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 16 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 5 (Vermont); the most generous is 100 (Missouri).
Confirmed by 874 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Bowfin are the sole living survivors of order Amiiformes, a lineage with fossils over 150 million years old.
- It surfaces regularly to gulp air using a modified gas bladder that functions as a primitive lung.
- Males develop vivid blue-green fins and an orange-rimmed tail spot during spring spawning season.
- A male guards the nest, then herds his fry in a tight school for several weeks after hatching.
- Record catches exceed 20 pounds, making bowfin one of the largest ambush predators in freshwater.
Where Ruddy Bowfin are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Ruddy Bowfin
Background
The ruddy bowfin is a ray-finned fish native to North America. Common names include mudfish, mud pike, dogfish, grindle, grinnel, swamp trout, and choupique. It is regarded as a relict, being one of only two surviving species of the Halecomorphi, a group of fish that first appeared during the Early Triassic, around 250 million years ago. The bowfin is often considered a "living fossil" because…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Ruddy Bowfin article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Ruddy Bowfin?
Ruddy Bowfin (Amia calva) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 16 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Ruddy Bowfin?
Ruddy Bowfin is Amia calva.
Is Ruddy Bowfin regulated for fishing?
Yes — Ruddy Bowfin has fishing regulations in 13 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Ruddy Bowfin?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Ruddy Bowfin along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.