Muskies, Pikes, and Tigers
How to tell muskies, northern pikes, and tiger muskies apart
The tiger musky is the result of eggs from a female musky fertilized by a male northern pike. Tigers share some physical characteristics with each parent.
The musky is light-colored with dark vertical bars, has no scales on
the lower part of its operculum,
and has 6-9 sensory
pores on each side of its lower jaw. There are 16-19 branchiostegal
rays on each side. Muskies also have pointed caudal,
pelvic,
and pectoral
fins.
The northern pike is dark-colored with light spots, has scales on the
lower part of its operculum, and has 5-7 pores on each side of its lower
jaw. There are 14-16 branchiostegal rays on each side. Pikes also have
rounded caudal, pelvic, and pectoral fins.
The tiger musky has irregular light vertical markings on a dark background, 5-7 pores on each side of its lower jaw, and scales on the lower part of the operculum.
Hybridization occurs naturally and is increasing in lakes that contain both species. Male hybrids are always sterile, but females may be fertile. Tiger muskies have been artificially hybridized in Wisconsin hatcheries since 1940.
Back
to musky profile | Back
to northern pike profile
Sources: "Muskellunge," written by Maureen Mecozzi, Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources brochure, January 1989.
Fishes of Wisconsin, George C. Becker, University of Wisconsin Press,
1983.
"Tiger in the Woods: The Jungle Book on Tiger Muskies," In-Fisherman,
April 1998, pp. 104-108, 110, 112, 114.
"Tell You Something about Big Muskies," In-Fisherman, September,
October, November 1998, pp. 38-43.
copyright 2001 University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute
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