Black crappie species. "Pomoxis", the genus name, is Greek: "poma, -atos" and "oxys" meaning sharp operculum. This references the fish's spined gill covers. The species name, "nigromaculatus", is derived from Latin and means "black-spotted". Black crappie The black crappie ("Pomoxis nigromaculatus") is a freshwater fish found in North America, one of the two crappies. It is very similar to the white crappie in size, shape, and habits, except that it is darker, with a pattern of black spots. Black crappies are most accurately identified by the seven or eight spines on its dorsal fin (white crappies have five or six dorsal spines).
White crappie is . White crappies are native to the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and the Mississippi River basins expanding from New York and southern Ontario westward to South Dakota and southward to Texas. This species has a large geographic range in the United States and currently has a stable population. Currently, this species is listed as a least concern species for conservation efforts. White crappies can be found in large rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. White crappies are more tolerant of turbid (murky) waters than black crappies. The white crappie usually outnumbers the black crappie in turbid waters and in areas with