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Bluegill
Bluegill,  Lepomis macrochirus

 
Physical Description: 
�	Deep, very compressed body
�	Short, round, dark-margined earflap
�	Black spot in rear of second dorsal fin
�	Small, terminal mouth
�	Large eye
�	Tail fin edge almost straight with rounded lobes
�	Pectoral fin elongate and pointed
�	Vertical, dark-colored bars on side 
�	Side is blue or blue-green with a purple luster

Similar species: 
�	Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
�	Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 80-220 mm standard length 

Habitat:
�	Pools and low to moderate gradient streams
�	Hard or silted substrates

Distribution in VA:
�	Big Sandy and Tennessee drainages, and maybe the Pee Dee drainage
�	Introduced to all the other drainages and Delmarva Peninsula

Food Habits:  
�	Young eat plankton
�	Adults eat small aquatic and terrestrial insects and plants

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature at age 1 or 2 
�	Spawning occurs May to September 
�	Males build colonial nests in shallows on sand or gravel
�	Females spawn several times a year
�	Fecundity is about 80,000 eggs per female per year

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	Popular sport fish 
�	In overpopulated ponds, they compete with each other

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.
If you are seeking more information for the above species click on the VAFWIS logo (The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service):

VAFWIS
Banded Sunfish
Banded Sunfish
Black Crappie
Black Crappie
Black Crappie
Black Crappie
Blackbanded Sunfish
Blackbanded Sunfish
Bluegill
Bluegill
Bluespotted Sunfish
Bluespotted Sunfish
Flier
Flier
Mud Sunfish
Mud Sunfish
Roanoke Bass
Roanoke Bass
Rock Bass
Rock Bass
Warmouth
Warmouth
Green Sunfish
Green Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish
Hybrid: Redbreast Sunfish
Hybrid: Redbreast Sunfish
Longear Sunfish
Longear Sunfish
Redear Sunfish
Redear Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Spotted Bass
Spotted Bass
Continue Browsing Families.....
  1. Petromyzontidae, Lampreys
  2. Polyodontidae, Paddlefish
  3. Acipenseridae, Sturgeons
  4. Lepisosteidae, Gars
  5. Amiidae, Bowfins
  6. Anguillidae, Freshwater Eels
  7. Amblyopsidae, Cavefishes
  8. Ictaluridae, Catfish
  9. Percopsidae, Trout-Perches
  10. Salmonidae, Trouts
  11. Clupeidae, Herrings
  12. Esocidae, Pikes
  13. Aphredoderidae, Pirate Perches
  14. Umbridae, Mudminnows
  15. Fundulidae, Killifishes
  16. Poeciliidae, Livebearers
  17. Cyprinidae, Minnows
  18. Catostomidae, Suckers
  19. Gasterosteidae, Sticklebacks
  20. Atherinidae, Silversides
  21. Cottidae, Sculpins
  22. Sciaenidae, Drums
  23. Percidae, Perches
  24. Moronidae, Striped Basses
  25. Centrarchidae, Sunfishes

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