BOWFIN, a fresh-water fish (Amia calva) of North Amer ica, the only living representative of its family, which dates back to the Cretaceous. It is a voracious fish, found in the Great Lakes, and southwards in sluggish waters. It is elongate in form, and mottled green in colour with a long dorsal fin, and with strong conical teeth in the jaws. The female reaches a length of 3o inches ; the male is smaller, and is distinguished by a black ocellus on the tail.