Their lower half of the cheeks are completely scaled and they have five or fewer pores on each side of the underside of the jaw. The back and sides of the Northern Pike are a dusky olive-green with rows of light oval spots. Dorsal, anal and tail fin have round to oblong darkened spots. Dorsal fin located far back on an elongated body. Large canine-like teeth.
Cheeks completely scaled, only upper half of the gill cover is scaled.
The lower half of the muskie's cheek is not scaled. The lobes of the muskie's tail are more pointed than those of the northern pike.