Freshwater Fishes of Texas: A Field Guide

Black Basses and Sunfishes—Family Centrarchidae

134 Flier Centrarchus macropterus (Lacépède, 1801) RANGE: Sabine, Neches, and San Jacinto river drainages. HABITAT: Lakes, ponds, sloughs, rivers, and creeks in backwaters and pools. CHARACTERISTICS: (1) Mouth medium sized; lower jaw almost reaches middle of eye. (2) Dark suborbital bars. (3) Teeth on vomer, palatine, and pterygoid bones; 2 tooth patches on tongue. (4) Dorsal fin with 11–13 spines. (5) Anal fin with 7–8 spines; anal fin almost as large as dorsal fin. (6) Lateral line scales: 36–42. (7) Brown spots on scales form horizontal rows on lateral region. (8) Median fins with small, light colored spots. DIMENSIONS: Up to 8 in (203 mm) and 1 lb (0.5 kg). FIN COUNTS: Anal soft fin rays 13–15; dorsal soft fin rays 12–15; pectoral soft fin rays 12–14. COLORATION: Head with dark suborbital bars. Dorsal and upper lateral region olive-green; lateral region with brown spots on scales forming horizontal rows; ventral region yellow. Median fins with small, light colored spots. Juveniles have a large, black blotch at posterior portion of dorsal fin that fades as they mature. Black Basses & Sunfishes—Family Centrarchidae Flier, Centrarchus macropterus, adult, 5 in (127 mm) Flier, Centrarchus macropterus , juvenile, 2 in (51 mm) 13 Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis Auritus (Linnaeus, 1758) RANGE: Statewide, except for far west Texas and Panhandle (introduced ). HABITAT: Lakes, rivers, and creeks in pools. CHARACTERISTICS: (1) Opercle flaps on adults long and flexible. Flexible opercle flaps black to posterior margin with dorsal and ventral margins white. (2) Teeth present on palatine bones. (3) Gill rakers short. (4) Pectoral fins short, not reaching beyond eye when bent forward. (5) Dorsal fin with 10–11 spines. (6) Lateral line scales: 39–54. (7) Anal fin with 3 spines. DIMENSIONS: Up to 12.7 in (323 mm) and 1.2 lbs (0.54 kg). FIN COUNTS: Anal soft fin rays 9–10; dorsal soft fin rays 10–12; pectoral soft fin rays 13–15. COLORATION: Opercle flap black to posterior margin with dorsal and ventral margins blue. Dorsal and lateral region dark olive; ventral region red to yellow. Cheeks and opercle have blue wavy streaks. Breeding male redbreast sunfish has bright red chest and breast. Juveniles have a dark posterior margin on the caudal fin. Black Basses & Sunfishes—Family Centrarchidae Redbreast sunfish, Lepomis auritus, juvenile, 2.9 in (74 mm) Redbreast sunfish, Lepomis auritus, adult, 7 in (178 mm) 136 Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus (Rafinesque, 1819) RANGE: Statewide. HABITAT: Lakes, ponds, and creeks in pools and backwaters. CHARACTERISTICS: (1) Mouth large; lower jaw extends to about middle of eye. (2) Teeth present on palatine and vomer bones. (3) Pharyngeal teeth blunt and conical. (4) Gill rakers long and thin; longest gill rakers as long as diameter of pupil. (5) Opercle flaps dark with white or yellow-orange margin; opercle flaps inflexible. (6) Pectoral fins short and rounded; do not reach beyond eye when bent forward. (7) Dark, blotch on posterior portion of dorsal and anal fin; blotches may be faded or absent. (8) Dorsal fin with 9–11 spines. (9) Pelvic fins with 1 spine. (10) Lateral line scales: 41–52. (11) Caudal, pelvic, and anal fins with white, yellow, or orange margins. (12) Anal fin with 3 spines. DIMENSIONS: Up to 10 in (254 mm) and 1.2 lbs (0.54 kg). FIN COUNTS: Anal soft fin rays 8–11; dorsal soft fin rays 9–12; pectoral soft fin rays 13–15. COLORATION: Sides of head with iridescent blue or green mottling. Dorsal and lateral region brown to bluish-green with dark, mottled vertical bars; ventral region yellow to yellow-orange. Large, dark blotch on posterior portion of dorsal and anal fin base. Dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins with white to yellow-orange margins. Opercles with large black spot and a yellow or white margin. COMMENTS: The green sunfish can be distinguished from the rock bass by its 3 anal spines versus the 5–6 anal spines on rock bass. It can be distinguished from the warmouth by its lack of teeth on the tongue versus patch of teeth on the tongue of the warmouth. Black Basses & Sunfishes—Family Centrarchidae Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, juvenile, 2.8 in (71 mm) Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, adult, 6.5 in (165 mm) 13 Warmouth Lepomis gulosus (Cuvier, 1829) RANGE: Statewide, except for extreme northern Panhandle area. HABITAT: Lakes, ponds, swamps, rivers, and creeks. CHARACTERISTICS: (1...