Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Etymology: Micropterus: Greek, mikros = small + Greek,pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335); punctulatus: punctulatus meaning dotted, referring to the rows of spots on the lower sides (Ref. 10294).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Subtropical, preferred ?; 40°N - 29°N
North America: Mississippi River basin from southern Ohio and West Virginia to southeastern Kansas, and south to the Gulf of Mexico, USA; Gulf Slope drainages from Chattahoochee in Georgia to Guadalupe River in Texas, USA. Introduced in southern Africa and has become established in several isolated water bodies.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 63.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 4.7 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 7 years (Ref. 12193)
Inhabit clear, gravelly flowing pools and runs of creeks and small to medium rivers (Ref. 6465); also found in streams, lakes and reservoirs (Ref. 10294). Juveniles feed on small crustaceans and midge larvae while adults eat insects, larger crustaceans, frogs, worms, grubs and small fish (Ref. 6465, 10294).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Assuming same reproductive mode as M. dolomieu.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p. (Ref. 5723)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Gamefish: yes
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