Northern sunfish

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Northern sunfish
Lepomis peltastes 413191909.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Genus: Lepomis
Species:
L. peltastes
Binomial name
Lepomis peltastes
Cope, 1870

The northern sunfish (Lepomis peltastes) is a North American freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae). Lepomis peltastes was previously recognized as a subspecies of longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis), but is now widely considered a distinct species.

Contents

Description

Northern sunfish have 34-38 ctenoid scales along their lateral line. [2] The pectoral fin of this species is much shorter and rounded than other sunfishes.

The northern sunfish and longear sunfish are similar in appearance. Both are vibrantly-colored fish with distinct opercles. The opercle of L. peltastes tends to be steeply angled and stout, while those on L. megalotis are straighter and longer in comparison. Although each species display similar coloration, the patterns which form from these colors are different. The northern sunfish tends to have more distinct turquoise vertical barring than longear sunfish, the latter of which contains turquoise speckling or accents across the body. Some forms of longear sunfish appear much more red and orange than northern sunfish. Additionally, adult northern sunfish are typically smaller than longear sunfish, reaching a maximum total length around 12.7 cm (5.0 in). [3] Age estimation with scales suggested the average maximum lifespan was four years, although a nine year old specimen was observed in Michigan. [2]

A small, northern sunfish caught at Lake Leelanau, MI. Juvenile Northern Sunfish.JPG
A small, northern sunfish caught at Lake Leelanau, MI.

Taxonomy

Due to observed phenotypic variation across the range of longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis was described as having the following subspecies: L. m. megalotis, L. m. peltastes, L. m. aquilensis, L. m. breviceps, and L. m. occidentalis. [4] Unlike the other four subspecies, L. m. peltastes was elevated to species without formal justification decades after its description. [5] Despite this discrepancy, the use of L. peltastes as a valid scientific name was widely accepted. More recent phylogenomic analyses now support the separation of L. peltastes as a distinct species. [6]

Habitat and range

Northern sunfish inhabit the northernmost portions of North America, such as the Saint Lawrence River and Great Lakes basins, as well as Hudson Bay, the upper Mississippi River, and portions of Ontario, Canada. [3] Populations tend to be scattered within these areas. This fish is generally found in small, quiet, temperate streams or rivers. This species prefers vegetation and back bays where they can avoid strong currents. The northern sunfish is also found in the littoral zone of clear lakes. [2]

The simplest way to determine whether a longear sunfish is L. peltastes or L. megalotis is by range, although there is substantial overlap and introgression between these two species. [6] [7]

Diet

Much like longear sunfish, northern sunfish are omnivorous. They feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects, as well as other invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans. [2] Stomach contents analyzed in Minnesota contained Gammarus spp., Trichoptera larvae, and Chironomidae larvae. [8]

Management

Northern sunfish are not considered a gamefish, however population declines have occurred across much of its range over the last century. The northern sunfish is listed as threatened in Wisconsin (under the species name L. megalotis) and New York. [9] [10] Additionally, it is listed as a species of special concern in Minnesota and within Canada. [11] [12] Populations appear stable in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio but this sunfish is presumed extirpated in Iowa and Pennsylvania. [1] Declines in northern sunfish are speculated to be caused by siltation and water quality deterioration although competitive interactions with round goby and green sunfish have been implicated as well. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centrarchidae</span> Family of fishes

Centrarchidae, better known as sunfishes, is a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes, native only to North America. There are eight universally included genera within the centrarchid family: Lepomis, Micropterus, Pomoxis (crappies), Enneacanthus, Centrarchus, Archoplites, Ambloplites, and Acantharchus. A genetic study in 2012 suggests that the highly distinct pygmy sunfishes of the genus Elassoma are also centrarchids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tippecanoe River</span> River in Indiana, USA

The Tippecanoe River is a gentle, 182-mile-long (293 km) river in the Central Corn Belt Plains ecoregion in northern Indiana. It flows from Crooked Lake in Noble County to the Wabash River near what is now Battle Ground, about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Lafayette. The name "Tippecanoe" was derived from a Miami-Illinois word for buffalo fish, reconstructed as */kiteepihkwana/ or as kiteepihkwana siipiiwi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluegill</span> Species of fish

The bluegill, sometimes referred to as "bream", "brim", "sunny", or, as is common in Texas, "copper nose", is a species of North American freshwater fish, native to and commonly found in streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands east of the Rocky Mountains. It is the type species of the genus Lepomis, from the family Centrarchidae in the order Perciformes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocmulgee River</span> River in Georgia, United States

The Ocmulgee River is a western tributary of the Altamaha River, approximately 255 mi (410 km) long, in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the westernmost major tributary of the Altamaha. It was formerly known by its Hitchiti name of Ocheese Creek, from which the Creek (Muscogee) people derived their name.

<i>Lepomis</i> Genus of fishes

Lepomis or true sunfish is a genus of North American freshwater fish from the family Centrarchidae in the order Perciformes. The generic name Lepomis derives from the Greek λεπίς ("scale") and πῶμα. The genus' most recognizable type species is perhaps the bluegill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pumpkinseed</span> Species of fish

The pumpkinseed, also referred to as sun perch, pond perch, common sunfish, punkie, sunfish, sunny, and kivver, is a small to medium–sized North American freshwater fish of the genus Lepomis, from family Centrarchidae in the order Perciformes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warmouth</span> Species of fish

The warmouth is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) that is found throughout the eastern United States. Other local names include molly, redeye, goggle-eye, red-eyed bream, and strawberry perch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redbreast sunfish</span> Species of fish

The redbreast sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to the river systems of eastern Canada and the United States. The redbreast sunfish reaches a maximum recorded length of about 30 centimetres (12 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green sunfish</span> Species of fish

The green sunfish is a species of aggressive freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. A panfish popular with anglers, the green sunfish is also kept as an aquarium fish by hobbyists, they need a 55-75 gallon tank and can be fed minnows, mealworms, or nightcrawlers. They are usually caught by accident, while fishing for other game fish. Green sunfish can be caught with live bait, such as nightcrawlers, waxworms, mealworms, and blood worms. Grocery store baits, such as pieces of hot dog or corn kernels, can even catch fish. Green sunfish are aggressive and will hit small lures. They can be caught with fly fishing tackle. They are extremely aggressive and will attack swimmers. They usually get 10 inches long, but in some cases they can get 12 inches long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longear sunfish</span> Species of fish

The longear sunfish is a freshwater fish in the sunfish family, Centrarchidae, of order Perciformes. It is native to the area of eastern North America stretching from the Great Lakes down to northeastern Mexico. The longear sunfish reaches a maximum recorded length of about 24 cm (9.4 in), with a maximum recorded weight of 790 g (1.74 lb). Most do not live beyond six years. The longear sunfish is quite colorful, with an olive to rusty-brown back, bright orange belly and vermiculate blue-green bars on the sides of its head, the latter two features most pronounced in breeding males. A unique characteristic of longear sunfish is their elongated operculum flap, giving an appearance of a "long ear". It is black and often has a white margin. The pectoral fin is relatively short and would not reach the snout if it were reflected anteriorly. In breeding males, iridescent blue spots develop on the dorsum and sides and the fin membranes turn orange in all fins except the ventral ones, which may be blue to black, and the pectoral ones. Lepomis megalotis can be distinguished from closely related dollar sunfish L. marginatus by a greater number of cheek scale rows, by having one to two additional pectoral fin rays and by the slope of the opercular flap, which is distinctly upward in L. marginatus but is closer to horizontal in males of L. megalotis, although female and subadult L. megalotis may have upward slanting opercular flaps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redear sunfish</span> Species of fish

The redear sunfish, also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch) is a freshwater fish in the family Centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern United States. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America. It is known for its diet of mollusks and snails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orangespotted sunfish</span> Species of fish

The orangespotted sunfish is a North American species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. These fish are widely distributed across the middle and eastern United States, from the Rocky Mountains to the east, from the Great Lakes south into the Gulf Coast. The orangespotted sunfish is ecologically unique and thrives in turbid, shallow systems that have few predators and low oxygen contents. The species prefers vegetated areas in sluggish backwaters or lakes, and can also be found in turbid rivers. The orangespotted sunfish can extend its range in lower-quality waters, which is not characteristic of other sunfish. Orangespotted sunfish vary in total length and age for different river basin originations, but can be found to live four to seven years, and recorded lengths are up to 15 cm (5.9 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted sunfish</span> Species of fish

The spotted sunfish, also known as a stumpknocker, is a member of the freshwater sunfish family Centrarchidae and order perciformes. The redspotted sunfish, redear sunfish and pumpkinseed sunfish are its closest relatives. Lepomis punctatus is olive-green to brown in color with black to reddish spots at the base of each scale that form rows of dots on the side. The scientific name punctatus refers to this spotted pattern. It was first described in 1831 by Valenciennes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dollar sunfish</span> Species of fish

The dollar sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. It is categorized as a warm water pan-fish. Early settlers said that this species of sunfish resembled a European species they called bream. Historically it has been found along the Southern Atlantic coastal drainages from North Carolina to Florida, and west to Texas. Lepomis marginatus mainly feeds on detritus and filamentous algae as well as a few terrestrial insects. The juvenile and mature fish do not have many predators, but the eggs in the nest are in danger of predation from a few different species of fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redspotted sunfish</span> Species of fish

The redspotted sunfish, also known as a stumpknocker, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a sunfish from the family Centrarchidae which is native to the United States. The redspotted sunfish was previously considered to be a western subspecies of spotted sunfish but was distinguished as a separate species by Warren in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laughery Creek</span> River in Indiana, United States

Laughery Creek is an 88.6-mile-long (142.6 km) stream that flows through Ripley, Dearborn, and Ohio counties in southeastern Indiana, and is a tributary of the Ohio River.

References

  1. 1 2 "Lepomis peltastes Northern Longear Sunfish". NatureServe. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Becker, G.C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Madison Press, Madison, WI. Pages 834–839
  3. 1 2 Page, Lawrence M.; Burr, Brooks M., eds. (2011). Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico (2 ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN   978-0-547-24206-4.
  4. Bailey R.M. 1938. A systematic revision of the centrarchid fishes with a discussion of their distribution, variations, and probable interrelationships [Ph.D. dissertation]. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.
  5. Bailey R.M., Latta W.C., Smith G.R. 2004. An atlas of Michigan fishes with keys and illustrations for their identification. Miscellaneous Publications Museum of Zoology University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 192:1–214.
  6. 1 2 Daemin Kim, Bruce H Bauer, Thomas J Near, Introgression and Species Delimitation in the Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis (Teleostei: Percomorpha: Centrarchidae), Systematic Biology, Volume 71, Issue 2, March 2022, Pages 273–285, https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syab029
  7. "Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) - Species Profile". USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  8. Jean Porterfield; Patrick Ceas (2021). Life histories of the northern longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis peltastes) and pugnose shiner (Notropis anogenus) in Minnesota, with examinations of other rare non-game fishes (PDF) (Report). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  9. "Wisconsin's Endangered and Threatened Species List". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  10. "Endangered & Threatened Fishes Of New York". New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  11. "Minnesota List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  12. "Species at risk public registry". Species at Risk Act: Species registry. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  13. "Species Status Assessment: Northern Sunfish" (PDF). New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2024-08-27.