# Walleye (*Sander vitreus*) The Walleye is a fish that is known for its big eyes, which help it see well in dark waters. It's a popular fish for anglers! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Lakes and rivers - **Also known as:** Sander, Sander vitreus, Yellow Pike ![Walleye](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425890/objects/4674.jpg) ## Appearance The Walleye has a long, slender body typically olive to gold with a white belly, featuring distinct dark bars on its sides. Its most striking feature is its large, opaque, light-sensitive eyes that reflect light, giving them a cloudy appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Percidae - **Genus:** Sander ## Interesting facts - Female Walleye can lay hundreds of thousands of tiny eggs in just one season! - They are so popular, some states in the USA call them their official state fish! - Walleye can change how much light enters their eye, just like a camera lens! - Walleye eyes glow like marbles in the dark due to a special reflective layer! ## Special abilities - **Night Vision Superpower:** Walleye can see well in low light because their large, reflective eyes gather more light, helping them hunt at dawn and dusk. - **Sharp Spine Shield:** Walleye has sharp, spiny fins that can deter predators, making them a less appealing meal for bigger fish. - **Camouflage Cloak:** Walleye can blend into murky waters because its mottled, olive-gold skin provides excellent camouflage, helping it ambush prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 35-75 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-5 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-15 years - **Swim Speed:** 15 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 40 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding Walleye are expert hunters, mostly eating smaller fish, but also insects and crayfish when young. - **Age differences:** Young Walleye eat mostly insects and small crustaceans, shifting to fish as they grow larger. - **Primary Foods:** minnows, shiners, yellow perch, crayfish, insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-perch) (*Perca flavescens*) — Walleye feed heavily on these common lake fish. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — Large pike are a major predator of juvenile and adult Walleye. - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Eagles are skilled hunters that can snatch Walleye from the surface. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Walleye? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Walleye? 35-75 cm ### How much does Walleye weigh? 0.7-5 kg ### How long does Walleye live? 7-15 years ### What does Walleye eat? Walleye are expert hunters, mostly eating smaller fish, but also insects and crayfish when young. ### How fast can Walleye swim? 15 km/h ### Where is Walleye usually found? Lakes and rivers ### How does Walleye hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Elephant Butte Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elephant-butte-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Kabetogama Ranger Station District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kabetogama-ranger-station-district) — Minnesota, US · Historic District ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Walleye: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/walleye)