Bowfin

Amia calva

The bowfin is the only member of an ancient line of fish that lived during the time of the dinosaurs. Found in vegetated backwaters, their long dorsal fin aids them in swimming forwards and backwards through the vegetation. A modified air bladder assists them in getting oxygen. Aquatic vegetation is scarce in the Rouge and we have only found bowfin around Fordson Island, downstream of the Ford Rouge plant.

Bowfin Distribution

black dots = sampling sites; red blocks = species present