Family: Percidae, Perches and Darters view all from this family

Description To 28" (71 cm); 8 3/4 lbs (4 kg). Elongate, almost cylindrical; gray to dull brown, sides brassy to orange with dark markings, often with 3-4 dark saddles extending to middle of sides, belly whitish. Mouth extends past middle of eye; canine teeth present; preopercle partially serrate. Dorsal fins separate; first dorsal has 2-3 rows of small, black spots and narrow, dusky edge; second dorsal fin has 2 light, narrow bands; caudal fin forked. Lateral line complete, with 85-95 scales.

Habitat Dingy, turbid waters of large creeks and rivers with moderate to swift current; also lakes and reservoirs.

Range From Quebec to Alberta; St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes; Mississippi River drainage south to Tennessee, n. Alabama, and Arkansas. Introduced outside native range.

Discussion The Sauger is an important sport and food fish and is harvested commercially in parts of Canada. It eats a variety of small fishes and aquatic invertebrates, which it locates with its large eyes.