Choupique

The bowfin, or Amia calva, is an ancient fish that has been around so long, and changed so little, they are considered “living fossils.” The bowfin has many nicknames — dogfish, grinnel, spotail — but is known to many Louisianans as the choupique (pronounced shoe-pick), a Choctaw word meaning “mudfish.” Bowfin are the only extant fish in the Amiidae family.

They, along with the gar fish, or Lepisosteids, make up the last of the living Holostean fish and haven’t changed much in morphology since the late Paleozoic period. Though Amiid fossils have been found on all continents besides Australia, bowfin are located only in North America.

They inhabit northern waters as far north as Quebec and Minnesota and as far south from Florida to Texas, and most water bodies in between. Bowfin are found in the shallow, slow-moving backwaters of Louisiana, which are typically warm, well-vegetated and low in oxygen.

At first glance, bowfin look similar to gar — a long arrow-shaped body with mottled patterns on the sides, thick scales and rounded pectoral and tail fins. Bowfin, however, have several unique characteristics that set them apart from other fishes.

First, the dorsal fin of bowfin runs more than half the length of its back, almost connecting with the caudal fin. Fish can make this fin undulate, allowing them to slowly move forward and backward in the water. Second, bowfin have a gular plate — a bony structure below the bottom jaw.

The gular plate can be noticed when tapping underneath the chin. In addition, these fish have the ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen, an adaptation necessary for living in degraded water quality. Bowfin have a row of small, sharp teeth, and are usually a drab greenish-brown in color.

During the breeding season — February to May, depending on geography — males become quite distinguishable: An orange halo will appear around their tail spot, and their fins and jaw will turn bright green or turquoise.

Bowfin are predators that feed primarily on fish, although crawfish, frogs and shrimp are eaten when given the opportunity. Freshwater fishermen in Louisiana can attest to their diet preferences, as bowfin will take almost any bait or lure used for catfish or bass.

People who recreationally fish for bowfin find them to be strong fighters, especially the larger fish. The Louisiana record for bowfin was caught by Brian Fant in 1976, weighing 20.5 pounds.

Bowfin are considered a “trash fish” by many, but are treasured table fare to some, who find them quite palatable if cleaned promptly. Preparation can be fried, blackened, used in courtbouillion, or in fishballs or cakes. Be aware that in some waters bowfin have higher mercury levels than most sought-after game fish, so the FDA has advised limiting consumption.

I ain't eating choupique is all I know for sure. I decided on it as a username because it was available and thought it might cause a smile.

Apportez le bois. Deux cela. Qui est celui?

acekilla89

for a while ive been using acekilla89...noone seems to ever have it...but to break it down, ace was/is my graffiti name, i have no clue where i came up killa but i stuck with it...and 89 is my birth year...

skymike

You write on other people's walls?

foreverfan

Are you kidding... he still has zits.

acekilla89

i used when i was younger...i still draw it in my art pad

niteadept

Don't sleep much and I'm always stalking around on Black and Gold at 2 and 3 in the morning. Morning would be so much nicer if it started later in the day!

Saint_LB

Famous quotes from walls...

He who writes on $hithouse walls...
rolls their $hit in little balls.

He who reads these lines of wit...
eats those little balls of $hit.

Or...an oldy but goodie that everybody's heard...

Here I sit, broken hearted...
Came to crap and only farted.

And a variation that I read on the wall of a dive outside Great Lakes...

Here I sit, playing with my tooter...
As my a$$hole gives birth to a Navy recruiter.

and nowadays...no bathroom is complete without...


JENNY 867-5309


Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to?
You give me something I can hold onto
I know you think I'm like the others before
Who saw your name and number on the wall

Jenny, I got your number,
I need to make you mine.
Jenny, don't change your number,
8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)
8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)

Jenny, Jenny, you're the girl for me.
You don't know me but you make me so happy.
I tried to call you before but I lost my nerve.
I tried my imagination, but I was disturbed.

Jenny, I got your number,
I need to make you mine.
Jenny, don't change your number,
8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)
8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)

I got it, I got it, I got it!
I got your number on the wall!
I got it, I got it, I got it!
For a good time, for a good time call....

Jenny, don't change your number.
I need to make you mine.
Jenny. I'll call your number,
8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)
8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)

Jenny, Jenny who can I turn to? (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)
For the price of a dime I can always turn to you.
(8-6-7-5-3-0-9)
8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)
8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)
8-6-7-5-3-0-9(//fade out//)
8-6-7-5-3-0-9
8-6-7-5-3-0-9
8-6-7-5-3-0-9

Whether you think you can or think you can't...you're right!

skymike

Im glad you dont do that anymore. Writing on other people's walls is low class.

If I were in charge and somebody wrote on somebody else's wall without their permission, first I would sentence them to an Indonesian style caning, (an American kid got that one time over there for just that) then I would have the wall's owner spray paint the offender's car. And then, I'd have a picture of Kenny Chesney tattoo'ed on their kids.

But I am proud that you have reached the maturity to not do that anymore. very good.

You should hear my proposal for solving the Noise Nuisance problem.(driving around going BBBBBBBB! BBBBBBBBBB! BBBBBBBBBBBB!) It involves a small room, large amplifier, banjo's, and accordions.

acekilla89

getting busted sucks...they dropped the charges when i offered to clean it up...worst april vacation ever...

foreverfan

Someone once wrote this on the stall door....

"If you can read this, you are $hitting at a 45 degree angle."