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Redbreast Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish,  Lepomis auritus

 

Physical Description: 
�	Deep, very compressed body
�	Very long, dark earflap
�	Medium-sized, terminal mouth
�	Large eye
�	Tail fin lobes slightly rounded to a point
�	Pectoral fin rounded
�	Pelvic fin with small filamentous projection of longest ray
�	Males have bright orange breast and belly
�	Scales may have pale blue iridescent marks
�	Side may have orange or yellow-orange spots or bars

Similar species: 
�	Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
�	Spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 90-185 mm standard length 

Habitat:
�	Found in pools of warm streams and rivers of low gradient

Distribution in VA:
�	Atlantic slope drainages
�	Stocked in all drainages west of the Atlantic slope drainages

Food Habits:  
�	Insects, crayfish, other arthropods, mollusks, and sometimes fish

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature at age 2 
�	Spawning occurs May to August at water temperatures of 16-28�C
�	Males build nests over silt-free or lightly silted sand and gravel in cover
�	Nests are usually grouped closely together in calm pool margins
�	Fecundity is about 963-8,250 eggs per female 
�	Can naturally hybridize with L. cyanellus, L. gibbosus, L. macrochirus, and L. microlophus  

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	Good sport on light tackle
�	Does not thrive in ponds 
�	Good to eat

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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Bluegill
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Bluespotted Sunfish
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Flier
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Mud Sunfish
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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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Redear Sunfish
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Pumpkinseed
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Smallmouth Bass
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Largemouth Bass
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Spotted Bass
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Continue Browsing Families.....
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  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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