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Over-the-counter deer firearm permit sales begin on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Due to recent software updates beyond IDNR’s control, some vendors may have limited availability to print permits and licenses. IDNR is working closely with the license system provider to quickly address the issue for those vendors. To locate unaffected vendors, use the agent locator at https://www.exploremoreil.com/agentlocator.

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cisco

cisco (Coregonus artedi)
Illinois Status: state endangered, native
Photo © Paul Vecsei/Engbretson Underwater Photography

Features and Behaviors

​FEATURES
The upper lip of the cisco reaches to behind the front edge of its eye. This fish has a long, slender body with an adipose fin. The pelvic fins are located about even with the dorsal fin. The back is blue-green. The sides are silver. A cisco adult averages about nine to 12 inches in length and about one pound in weight.

BEHAVIORS
This species travels in schools. Spawning occurs in fall and winter. It is a fish of shallow water that eats tiny crustaceans, plankton, insects and some small fishes. It is not tolerant of warm temperatures.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae

Habitats

Aquatic
Lake Michigan, occasionally the origin of the Illinois River