# Bowfin (*Amia calva*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/amia-calva  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The bowfin (Amia calva) is a bony fish in the family Amiidae, order Amiiformes and class Holostei. Its scientific name was given by Linnaeus, 1766, and it belongs to the genus Amia. Other English names for the bowfin include Lawyer, Mudfish, Dogfish, Grindle and Griddle. The bowfin is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment, which is not an IUCN threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | up to 33 years |
| Diet | Piscivore |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater, riverine, wetland |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Holostei
- order: Amiiformes
- family: Amiidae
- genus: Amia
- species: *Amia calva* Linnaeus, 1766

Synonyms: *Amia cinerea*, *Amia lentiginosa*, *Amia lintiginosa*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the bowfin?

The bowfin is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Amiidae in the order Amiiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the bowfin?

The scientific name of the bowfin is Amia calva, in the genus Amia.

### Who named the bowfin and when?

The bowfin was named by Linnaeus, 1766.

### Is the bowfin endangered?

No. The bowfin is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment, which is not an IUCN threatened category.

### What are other names for the bowfin?

Other English names for the bowfin are Lawyer, Mudfish, Dogfish, Grindle and Griddle.

### What class does the bowfin belong to?

The bowfin belongs to the class Holostei, in the phylum Chordata.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Bowfin (Amia calva). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/amia-calva