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Longear Sunfish
Longear Sunfish, Lepomis megalotis

 

Physical Description: 
�	Deep, very compressed body
�	Black opercular spot with a pale edge
�	Small, terminal mouth
�	Large eye
�	Tail fin lobes rounded
�	Pectoral fin rounded
�	Orange-brown body with blue spots and blue wavy lines on cheek
�	Narrow black edge on anal fin

Similar species: 
�	Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
�	Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 75-150 mm total length 

Habitat:
�	Warm ponds, reservoirs, and pools of streams and rivers

Distribution in VA:
�	Tennessee and Big Sandy drainages 
�	Introduced to the New and Potomac drainages

Food Habits:  
�	Aquatic invertebrates and terrestrial insects

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature at age 2 
�	Spawning occurs late May to early July 
�	Males are territorial and build nests in colonies on gravel bottoms
�	Males produce a grunting noise during courtship and spawning
�	Fecundity is 2,360-22,119 eggs per female per year
�	Hybridizes with many other sunfish species

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	Males are brightly colored 

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
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Black Crappie
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Black Crappie
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Blackbanded Sunfish
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Bluespotted Sunfish
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Flier
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Rock Bass
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Warmouth
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Green Sunfish
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Redbreast Sunfish
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Hybrid: Redbreast Sunfish
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Longear Sunfish
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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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