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13 Banded Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma zonatum Jordan, 1877 RANGE: Brazos River basin north to the Red River basin. HABITAT: Swamps, sloughs, and creeks. CHARACTERISTICS: (1) Mouth small and terminal. (2) Dark spots (1 or 2) just below dorsal fin origin. (3) Scales with melanophores, giving body a speckled pattern. (4) Lateral region with 7–12 dark, vertical bars. (5) Median fins with dark spots. (6) Pectoral fins short and rounded; do not reach beyond eye when bent forward. (7) Dorsal fin with 3–5 spines. (8) Anal fin with 3 spines. (9) Pelvic fins long and pointed, with 1 spine. (10) Lateral line absent; 28–45 lateral series scales. DIMENSIONS: Up to 1.7 in (43 mm). FIN COUNTS: Anal soft fin rays 4–8; dorsal soft fin rays 8–13; pectoral soft fin rays 13–17; pelvic soft fin rays 5. COLORATION: Entire body dark olive-green to brown with scale pigmentation giving body speckled appearance in addition to 7–12 dark, vertical bars. Dark spots (1 or 2) just below the dorsal fin origin; median fins with dark spots. Breeding males are almost solid black. COMMENTS: The banded pygmy sunfish can be distinguished from a juvenile bass by its 3–5 dorsal spines. Banded pygmy sunfish, Elassoma zonatum, 0.5 in (13 mm) Pygmy Sunfish—Family Elassomatidae ...

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