58 Animals That Live in a Lake: Names, Pics, Identification Charts, Fresh vs Salt

Some of the spiders live entirely underwater; they include the fishing spider and the diving bell spider.

Most spiders are carnivorous. They use invisible webs to trap their prey.

Spiders that live in lake regions eat insects and other spiders.

2. American Bittern

The American bittern is a type of carnivorous bird found in Canada and the United States.¹¹ The American bittern is a bird species that is under the heron family.

(Image: Syed Ahmad²⁶)

Their natural habitats are marshes and vegetation around ponds and lakes. They live close to these water bodies to get food.

Their diet includes insects, crustaceans, and fish found in the ponds and lakes.

3. Water Boatman

These are herbivorous insects found worldwide. The name ‘Water Boatmen’ is a collective term used to describe a family of aquatic insects called Corixidae.

(Image: Bj.schoenmakers²⁷)

There are about 500 species in this family. They are different from other insects because of their aquatic nature.

Their main food is algae and plants.

4. Scud

The scud is an omnivorous crustacean found worldwide. It’s also called side swimmers, freshwater shrimp or Amphipoda.

(Image: jidanchaomian²⁸)

These crustaceans can be found in most water habitats including freshwater and saltwater lakes. There are over 9,900 species.

They mostly eat detritus as well as fungi, bacteria and live algae.

It’s an endangered species due to several factors such as over fishing. It’s among the animals that will be extinct in the future.

They feed on aquatic plants along with prawns and shellfish. Their style of feeding depends on the season.

If there’s more food the Golden Carp will eat more and vice versa.

6. Lake Herring

This is a carnivorous fish found in the great lakes. The lake herring is mostly found in Europe and North America.

(Image: andreas160578²⁵)

It has other names such as Northern cisco, tubilee, chub, and cisco.⁶ This fish is considered a species of freshwater whitefish found in North America.

It can also be found in the arctic ocean which is a saltwater habitat.

The fish feeds on young fish, plankton and insects. It’s also preyed upon by certain animals such as walleye, yellow perch, burbot, northern pike and the rainbow trout.

7. Lake Trout

The lake trout is a carnivorous fish found in deep,¹⁴ large lakes and it’s also called the gray trout, togue, lake char, namaycush, and mackinaw.

(Image: Sara Kurfeß²⁶)

They take a lot of time to fully mature and they are a huge target of commercial fishing. They are very susceptible to over fishing and are also a target of recreational fishing in lakes.

8. Lake Sturgeon

This is a carnivorous fish found in North America, especially in the Great Lake. There are 25 sturgeon species found out there and this is the only one that’s considered a freshwater fish.

(Image: Hans²⁵)

They feed on various prey such as insects and fish. The type of prey they feed on depends on several factors such as choice of habitat.

The world has over 3,000 mayfly species grouped into 400 genera.⁷ They get their nutrients from both animals and plants. They usually eat as nymphs as adults only live for one day.

10. Mink

These are carnivorous rodents found mostly in North America. They are semiaquatic and have the same family as ferrets, weasels, and otters.

(Image: John_Nature_Photos²⁵)

Minks have two species, the American and the European mink. They have a 10-year lifespan but those in the wild only live up to 3 years.

These rodents are strong predators and feed on meat, sometimes they may eat their young ones. They are not primarily cannibals though, they feed on eggs, birds, fish and small mammals.

11. Long-Tailed Duck

This is a carnivorous bird found in Northern Canada. It’s also called the old-squaw duck.

(Image: Tyler Jamieson Moulton²⁶)

Its main habitats include lakes, marshes, pools and other water bodies. Their population has decreased over the years and they are considered endangered species.

These long-tailed ducks hunt for their prey by diving for it. They eat small fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.

12. Opossum Shrimp

These creatures are found right at the bottom of the lake so the chances of seeing them on the surface are very low. They can be found in both freshwater and salt water as long as there are suitable habitats.

(Image: Hans Hillewaert²⁹)

Most of the species live in sea water though some can be found in freshwater. These shrimps feed on invertebrates, plants, insects and algae.

Otters feed mainly on fishes but can eat birds, mammals, crayfish, frogs and crabs. They love breaking the shells of shellfish.

14. Painted Turtle

These are omnivorous reptiles found in Southern Canada and the United States. The painted turtle is one of the most unusual turtles and reptiles.

(Image: 631372²⁵)

It earned its name because of different skin colors that look like strokes of paint.⁸ The species is very old and has existed for millions of years.

They are aquatic animals and live in slow-moving freshwater such as lakes. They eat vegetation, algae, fish, insects and crustaceans.

Though they are often prey to other animals, it’s difficult to feed on an adult painted turtle because of their shells.

15. Perch

This is a carnivorous fish found in the United States, Canada, and Europe. There are three kinds of perch: the yellow perch, the Balkhash perch and the European perch.

(Image: Jeff Vanderspank²⁶)

They live at the bottom of the water, somewhere between 26 and 36 feet. They eat insect larvae, smaller fish and shellfish.

Their habitats should include plenty of insects and fish as well as plants where they can lay and hide their eggs from predators.

16. Salmon

Salmon is a very common edible fish and many people who eat fish love it. Its main habitat is standing freshwater such as ponds and lakes.

(Image: 8052601²⁵)

It’s part of the family Salmonidae with other types of fishes such as grayling, whitefish, char and trout. It’s an omnivore that feeds on vegetation and other fish.

They have a tragic reproductive style, where the female and male die after mating as a result of movements and other processes.

They feed on both animals and plants including earthworms, eggs, fish, grain and insects.

18. Greater Scaup

These are omnivorous birds found in Europe and North America. A few of them can be found in Siberia.

(Image: TheOtherKev²⁵)

It’s called a scaup or bluebill. They prefer living in habitats or other marshes.

They feed on aquatic plants, worms, fishes, crustaceans, clams, snails, insects and other small creatures. They are threatened by predators such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons and owls.

19. Snapping Turtle

The snapping turtle is an omnivorous reptile found in many freshwater habitats such as ponds and lakes.¹² This turtle is part of the Chelydra family and its scientific name is Serpentina because it has a snake-like head that protrudes from the shell.

(Image: JackBulmer²⁵)

The snapping turtle is the most common species among other turtle species. They have very few predators and tend to be at the top of the food chain in their habitats.

They eat amphibians, worms, fishes and other small creatures around the lake.

20. Snail

Snails are invertebrates found worldwide. They are classified as Gastropods and they are omnivorous.

(Image: Nennieinszweidrei²⁵)

They are both land and water animals found in both saltwater and freshwater. They mostly eat at night when they are most active.

Their diets are vast ranging from slugs to decaying matter. Their common food includes insects, centipedes, slugs, lichens and fungi.

Fortunately, there’s enough regulations to preserve the population. They are nocturnal which means they are active after sunset. They hunt down crustaceans and smaller fishes.

22. Lake Whitefish

These are carnivorous fish commonly found in Asia, Europe and North America. Their habitats are freshwater bodies and they are mostly found in cool waters.

(Image: Seb951³⁰)

They live in lakes but most of them are found in fast moving waters. They are also called Gizzard fish, or Otsego bass.

They are carnivores right from the larva stage. They start by feeding on plankton then grow to eat animals such as larvae, snails, and zebra mussels.

23. Zebra Mussel

These are herbivorous mollusks that are found worldwide. Initially, they used to live in Ukraine and Russia but over time they spread to the rest of the world either by accident or invasion.

(Image: Bj.schoenmakers²⁷)

That’s how it got to the Hudson River, Lake Travis, and the Great Lake. The zebra mussel eats plankton and other particles that are filtered out of the water through their mouth.

They are known as filter feeders because of this. They are often prey to other aquatic creatures.

24. Frogs

These are omnivorous amphibians found worldwide. They are mostly found around freshwater bodies such as lakes.⁹

(Image: 12019²⁵)

They come in many different kinds of species. Examples include:

• Bullfrogs
• Green frogs
• Pickerel frogs
• Spring peepers
• Leopard frogs

When frogs are young they are herbivores but as they grow, they turn carnivorous. They use their tongues to trap insects.

The tongues are sticky and hold on to their prey. They also impale prey using their poisonous skin and they are great at camouflage.

It lives in both lakes and oceans. The species has been introduced in other areas such as New Zealand.

Many fishermen love it because of its flesh. As such, the population of the species is endangered.

26. Deepwater Sculpin

The Deep Water Sculpin is a carnivorous mollusk found in Arkansas and Missouri.¹⁹ It lives at the bottom of the lake.

(Image: Kindel Media²⁶)

Therefore, it’s hard to find. As a result, very little is known about this creature.

There’s no information about their reproductive cycle or how they mate. However, it’s verified that they are carnivores that feed on larvae and crustaceans.

They are also threatened by deep water trout.

27. Muscovy Ducks

This is an omnivorous duck found in many parts worldwide. It is native to South and North America though not endemic to those areas.

(Image: truller²⁵)

It can also be found in Australia, Europe and New Zealand. They prefer living in grasslands, farm crops, streams, swamps and lakes.

Most of them are also domesticated. One major characteristic of the Muscovy Duck is that they are very territorial and get very aggressive with their living quarters.

The males usually fight for rights to mate and territories. The females are not quite as territorial.

28. Flamingoes

Flamingoes are omnivorous birds found worldwide. They are among the most beautiful birds globally with very bright feathers that are often white, orange, red or pink.

(Image: BarbeeAnne²⁵)

You can find four flamingo species in South and North America. Asia, Africa and Europe have two more species which add up to 6 flamingo species across the continents.

Flamingoes have distinctive beaks that curve downwards and long thin legs. These two features help them navigate in shallow water as they feed on aquatic plants or hunt for fish.

They are mostly found around lakes.

They feed on plants, animal carcasses, small fish and tadpoles. They also eat their own kind and other invertebrates.

30. Clam

These are omnivorous mollusks found worldwide. They live in both freshwater and saltwater.

(Image: Theresamcgee²⁵)

They eat animals, plants, plankton and algae. They are threatened by predators such as otters, seals, sea lions, and walruses.

They are also a great delicacy for humans and hold some significance in different religions and cultures.

31. Largemouth Bass

These are omnivorous fish found in North Mexico, Florida and North Carolina. This species is under the genus Black Bass.

(Image: paulbr75²⁵)

It is native to North America and lives in water habitats such as lakes. Since the bass is omnivore, it eats plants and small animals such as hatchlings of alligators, water birds, bats, salamanders, snakes, frogs, snails, worms and insects.

32. Caddisfly

This is an omnivorous insect found worldwide. Caddisfly is an umbrella term for over 10,000 insect species.

(Image: 8070548²⁵)

The larvae are aquatic but when they grow up to mature adults, they become terrestrial. This is a common feature of amphibians and insects.

Most of their lives are spent in larvae form and they do not live to long as adults.

Their homes include freshwater habitats such as streams and lakes. They eat plants and animals such as insects and small fishes.

34. Beaver

Beavers are herbivorous rodents found in North America.²¹ While most rodents are terrestrial, beavers are among the few that can live in both water and land.

(Image: Tim Umphreys²⁶)

It’s the second largest rodent worldwide, surpassed only by the capybara. The beavers come in two species: the North American Beaver, and the Eurasian Beaver.

They mostly live in lakes though some can be found in streams, rivers and ponds. They are very industrious animals and can be found building lodges, dams and usually display strong intelligence.

35. Axolotl

These are carnivorous reptiles found in North America. Salamanders come in different species and not all take to water.

(Image: Mattias Banguese²⁶)

The axolotl is a type of aquatic salamander. While other amphibians metamorphose, losing gills and starting to breathe air, the axolotls remain with gills.

They mostly live in lakes. They are critically endangered because they are prey to a wide range of predators.

36. Alligators

Alligators are categorized under two species that both live in lakes. The American alligator is common in the Southeast United States and the Chinese alligator that is native to China.

(Image: Shelly Collins²⁶)

Both alligators have similar appearances though the Chinese ones are much smaller. Alligators are found mostly in marshes and swamps and hove dark coloration that blends well into the surrounding.¹⁰

These predators are at the top of the food chain in a lake habitat, they feed on all other lake dwelling animals including large fish, turtles, crabs and bullfrogs.

The freshwater crocodiles use a wide range of hunting skills for various prey. They can either sit and wait or stalk and ambush depending on the prey.

38. Swans

These herbivores are part of the family Anatidae. They have similar features to geese.

(Image: Šárka Krňávková²⁶)

They are found all over the world and are one of the largest birds. They are about 59 inches long and weigh up to 35 pounds.

They live around lakes and eat plants that grow in water. One major characteristic is that they are the only birds that have one mate for life.

39. Gar

These are long fish under the family Lepisosteidae. They have been around for tens of millions of years.

(Image: GraceHues Photography²⁶)

They have sharp teeth and heterocercal tails. They are mostly found in North America and include subspecies such as Florida gars, spotted gars and alligator gars.

40. Egrets

These birds live in and around lakes. They have beautiful white feathers and are native to many parts of the globe.

(Image: akbarnemati²⁵)

Each species has their own unique environment but most live and hunt in marshes, freshwater and saltwater lakes.

These are types of herons and usually have a wide range of sizes ranging from 2 feet to 3.3 feet. While most are white, some are red and pink.

42. Leech

Leeches are found in several freshwater lakes.²² They are parasitic creatures that depend on the blood of vertebrate animals.

(Image: Stones²⁵)

There are around 650 species of leeches worldwide and each has its own lifespan and feeding habits. Some leeches eat fish, algae and decaying plant material.

Some live on lake beds feeding on animals at the lake bottom such as invertebrates and small fish.

43. Crickets

Crickets are examples of animals that live on the edges of lakes though they can be found close to other water bodies as well. They are nocturnal and feed on plants.

(Image: Heiko Haller²⁶)

You can always hear them sing at night when you get close to the bodies of water.

44. Great Diving Beetle

These are water beetles under the family Dytiscidae. They mostly occupy lakes and near other water bodies worldwide.

(Image: Evanherk²⁷)

Some of the species grow up to 1.9 inches long and most live in dense undergrowth. They lay their eggs in stagnant water.

The beetles feed on worms, larvae, tadpoles and other animals living in the lake.

They usually roost in tree cavities during the day time and go out to hunt at night.

46. Lizard

These are a group of reptiles with varying species that are found in or around lakes. Some are found at the bottom of the lake while others are found on vegetative growth next to the lake.

(Image: Selin Şahin²⁶)

Lizards usually bask out of the water to absorb heat from the sun and keep warm. Most of them are carnivorous, feeding on insects and small animals.

47. Fiddler Crab

These crabs are smaller than regular crabs and do not grow beyond an inch long. They have very large claws whose main function is to attract mates.

(Image: GabrielDouglas²⁵)

The smaller claw is used for feeding. They are found in lakes and marshes in Asia and North America.

48. Newt

Newts are under the family Salamandridae. They grow up to a length of between 5 to 9 inches.

(Image: Tyler Donaghy²⁶)

They can be found in both saltwater and freshwater lakes as well as ponds and slow-moving streams. They can hold their breath underwater for long periods and some spend their whole lives in water.

As adults, they can also spend time on land. Their diets consist of worms, slugs, tadpoles, shrimps and aquatic insects.

They usually dive very deep to catch their prey. Their diet includes frogs, fish and eels.

50. Sea Lamprey

Lampreys are like leeches, they attach to other animals and feed on their blood. Once a lamprey finds a target, it will attach to it and feed on it for a couple of days.

(Image: Fernando Losada Rodríguez³¹)

They are mainly found in the arctic and Atlantic oceans though some species are found in inland lakes. They prefer shallow areas full of plants, rocks and animals to prey on.

51. Northern Pike

This is a freshwater fish species with numerous nicknames such as pike and water wolf. They are native to North America and are found in Canada and Alaska.

(Image: Kelly Sikkema²⁶)

They are found in deep lakes and live in cold water. They are carnivorous and prey on other fish.

They are voracious feeders and if they are overpopulated in a certain water body, they will have stunted growth.

52. Eel

An eel is a creature with a snake-like body which can be found in rivers,¹³ lakes and marine waters all over the world. They eat leeches, worms, frogs, larvae, eggs, fish and insects.

(Image: Wouter Naert²⁶)

They are native to North America and Europe. They live in oceans but often migrate to freshwaters such as lakes and rivers to breed and reproduce.

They are part of many cuisines in different countries.

54. Cormorant

These omnivorous birds are some kind of water-fowl that live near rivers and lakes or by the sea coast. They have long hooked bills and long legs.

(Image: Romina BM²⁶)

They are mostly black and are found in Africa, Europe and North America. They are excellent divers and swimmers and will go after fish by plunging into the water from a height.

They can go as far as 150 feet underwater to catch fish.

55. Goose

The classic goose lives near water sources including lakes, ponds and rivers. They are really great swimmers.

(Image: Shirish Suwal²⁶)

They eat animals like insects, crustaceans, mollusks and plants near the water edge. They can be found worldwide but the highest populations are in North America and Europe.

56. Pond Skater

These are insects that are found near water. They are great jumpers and can go as high as three times their body length.

(Image: Enrico Mevius²⁷)

They feed on larvae and other small invertebrates. They are found everywhere.

They either float on the water surface or hop along the surface of water. They are sometimes mistaken for small spiders.

58. Snakes

Northern, southern, brown and banded snakes live in lakes. There’s so many snake’s species that live in or around water bodies.

(Image: David Clode²⁶)

They are located in both deep and shallow water. Most snakes live in relatively clear water where there’s little surface vegetation.

Biggest Fish in the Great Lakes

The biggest fish in the great lakes is the lake sturgeon.¹⁶ This fish is humongous. It has a big heavy body that is shaped like a torpedo and is covered in bony cartilage instead of scales.

They are omnivores that feed on insects, crustaceans, small clams and snails.

To summarize, there are many animal species that depend on lake habitats for their survival.

Animals that live in a lake feed on each other and the vegetation around them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Animals That Live in a Lake