Redspotted sunfish

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Redspotted sunfish
Lepomis miniatus 387577819.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Genus: Lepomis
Species:
L. miniatus
Binomial name
Lepomis miniatus
(D. S. Jordan, 1877)
Synonyms [2]

Lepiopomus miniatusD.S Jordan, 1877

The redspotted sunfish (Lepomis miniatus), also known as a stumpknocker, [3] 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 (Lepomis punctatus) but was distinguished as a separate species by Warren in 1992. [4]

Contents

Geographic distribution

The redspotted sunfish is a freshwater fish that can be found throughout the Mississippi River Valley. The distribution spreads north into Illinois and to the Ohio River, west into Texas and to Oklahoma's Red River, and east to the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. [5] Currently the populations of Lepomis miniatus found in the southern United States seem to be stable. [5] However, the species numbers have diminished significantly in the state of Illinois which lies at the northernmost point of the fish's historic range. Once the redspotted sunfish was found in bodies of water throughout the state but the species range, as of 2004, had diminished to just a few counties in the central and southern portions of Illinois. [6] In fact surveys conducted in the mid-2000s suggested that just two populations existed in the entire state at the time, one in a tributary of the Illinois River and the other in a tributary of the Ohio River. [7] There could be a number of causes for the decrease in the Lepomis miniatus in Illinois. A popular theory is that the redspotted sunfish has struggled due to a loss of wetlands, which make up the sunfish's natural habitat. The population may also be declining due to increasingly poor water conditions or from competition with invasive species. [8]

Description

The redspotted sunfish grows to a maximum standard length of 160 millimetres (6.3 in). [5] An iridescent crescent is visible within its eye underneath the red or dark-colored iris. [4] There is no dark spot at the rear of the dorsal fin, [5] unlike that of the green sunfish, which also has a larger mouth than the redspotted sunfish does. Breeding redspotted males will develop red-orange coloration starting from their belly and extending upward as pigmented, horizontal rows of scales to within one or two rows below the lateral line, a feature that distinguishes them from paler-colored breeding males of the spotted sunfish Lepomis punctatus. [4] Additionally, the redspotted sunfish does not have dark spots at the base of its scales, unlike spotted sunfish, in which these spots form irregular horizontal rows along the body. [4] The redspotted sunfish has narrow bands of white or cream color at the tips of its dorsal, anal and caudal fins. [4] It also has a dark opercular flap. In its zone of introgression with the spotted sunfish Lepomis punctatus, which includes areas of the Florida panhandle and western Georgia within its portion of the Tennessee River watershed and in tributaries of the Coosa River, part of the Mobile basin, L. miniatus may not be distinguishable from its sister species. [4]

Ecology

Lepomis miniatus feeds primarily on benthic species. Zooplankton make up between 33.3% to 74.6% of the diet of small sunfishes, about 50% of the diet of medium-sized sunfishes as they introduce larger prey into their diet. At larger sizes the redspotted sunfish shifts primarily to benthic macrofauna. [9] Many larger carnivorous fish feed on the redspotted sunfish, primarily bass. [10] Lepomis miniatus is commonly found in shallow and highly vegetated water. The species seems to prefer areas of slow moving water, 0.4 cm/s. [5] The redspotted sunfish is salt tolerant and can be found in the lower reaches of estuaries, such as bayous, along the Gulf Coast west of Florida. [9] While the redspotted sunfish has been shown to compete with other sunfish and some invasive species, like the Rio Grande cichlid in Louisiana, this competition is thought to have little effect in most cases due to the generalist diet of Lepomis miniatus. [11] A more direct danger could be invasive species that force Lepomis miniatus out of its preferred habitat, increasing the risk of predation. [10]

Life history

The breeding time of the redspotted sunfish varies across the range of the species but usually occurs in late spring or early summer. The fish breeds in shallow, shaded, areas close to the shore in nests constructed by the males. The redspotted sunfish has an average clutch size of around 2000. [12] Lepomis miniatus reaches sexual maturity at lengths greater than 50–55 mm TL, which occurs sometime between the ages of one and two. [12] The average lifespan of the Lepomis miniatus is about five to six years, six being the maximum age the species tends to reach. [12] The effect of human-induced changes on this life history is unknown at this time.

Conservation and management

Reduction in the redspotted sunfish's native distribution area is probably the result of drainage of swamps and bottomland lakes and the general deterioration of the water quality. [7] Oil pollution has been cited as a possible factor contributing to population decline in the lower Wabash River in Illinois. [6] There is also some concern that the release of the invasive Nile tilapia into waters inhabited by the redspotted sunfish could be detrimental to the species. [10]

The redspotted sunfish was listed as endangered by the State of Illinois in 2008. [13] Fortunately a number of organizations have been working to help the species recover, and thanks to their efforts, the redspotted sunfish's conservation status in Illinois returned to "threatened" in 2020. [14] The main groups who are working to rehabilitate Lepomis miniatus in Illinois are the Nature Conservancy in conjunction with the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. [8] These conservation efforts have involved transplanting a portion of the redspotted sunfish population into two protected, suitable, bodies of water. The first being a preserve lake in Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge near Havana, Illinois and the second being a refuge pond in Allerton Park in the Sangamon River basin. [15] These populations have spawned enough fish to stock five more suitable bodies of water. [7]

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">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.

<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 pond perch, common sunfish, punkie, sunfish, sunny, and kivver, is a small/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">Banded pygmy sunfish</span> Species of fish

The banded pygmy sunfish, Elassoma zonatum, is a species of pygmy sunfish endemic to the United States, where it is found from Indiana and Illinois to Texas to the Atlantic coast. It prefers densely vegetated bodies of slow-moving water. This species can reach 4.7 cm (1.9 in) in total length, though most do not exceed 3.5 cm (1.4 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">Bantam sunfish</span> Species of fish

The bantam sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the genus Lepomis common throughout Louisiana, in extreme southeastern Texas, in southern Arkansas, and in a few places in western Kentucky and western Tennessee.

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

The northern sunfish is a species of North American freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. Lepomis peltastes was traditionally recognized as a subspecies of longear sunfish but is often considered to be a separate species. However, this change remains controversial.

References

  1. ↑ NatureServe (2013). "Lepomis miniatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T202559A18231832. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202559A18231832.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Lepomis miniatus" in FishBase. December 2006 version.
  3. ↑ Illinois River Biological Station (3 July 2020). "From the Field: Redspotted sunfish". Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Warren Jr., Melvin L. (1992). "Variation of the Spotted Sunfish, Lepomis punctatus Complex (Centrarchidae): Meristics, Morphometrics, Pigmentation and Species Limits" (PDF). Bulletin of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. 12: 1–47. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Williams, C.H. and T.H. Bonner. Lepomis miniatus. Texas Freshwater Fishes. Texas State University - San Marcos. n.d. Web. Retrieved 11 November 2012. "Redspotted miniatus Lepomis miniatus". Archived from the original on 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  6. 1 2 Nÿboer, R.W.; Herkert, J.R.; Ebinger, J.E., eds. (2004). Endangered and Threatened Species of Illinois: Status and Distribution, Vol 2: Animals (PDF). Springfield: Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board. p. 57. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 Tiemann, Jeremy; Thomas, Trent; Epifanio, John; Schelsky, Wendy (10 July 2016). The Redspotted Sunfish Saga: From statewide surveys to genetic analyses, captive propagation, and reintroduction efforts (PDF). The Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists. New Orleans. p. 630. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  8. 1 2 Great Rivers: Restoring Wetlands Gives Fish a Fighting Chance. The Nature Conservancy. 07 March 2011 Web. Retrieved 11 November 2012. http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/riverslakes/howwework/restoring-wetlands-gives-fish-a-fighting-chance.xml Archived 2012-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
  9. 1 2 VanderKooy, Katherine E.; Rakocinski, Chet F.; Heard, Richard W. (2000). "Trophic relationships of three sunfishes (Lepomis spp.) in an estuarine bayou". Estuaries. 23 (5): 621–632. doi:10.2307/1352889. JSTOR   1352889.
  10. 1 2 3 Martin, Charles W.; Valentine, Marla M.; Valentine, John F. (2010). "Competitive Interactions between Invasive Nile Tilapia and Native Fish: The Potential for Altered Trophic Exchange and Modification of Food Webs". PLOS ONE. 5 (12). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014395 . PMC   3006172 . Art no. e14395.
  11. ↑ Lorenz, O. Thomas; O'Connell, Martin T.; Schofield, Pamela J. (2011). "Aggressive interactions between the invasive Rio Grande cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) and native bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), with notes on redspotted sunfish (Lepomis miniatus)". Journal of Ethology. 29: 39–46. doi:10.1007/s10164-010-0219-z.
  12. 1 2 3 Wallus, Robert; Simon, Thomas P. (2008). Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Fishes in the Ohio River Drainage, Vol 6: Elassomatidae and Centrarchidae. Boca Raton, Florida, USA: CRC Press. pp. 234–239. ISBN   978-0-8493-1922-8.
  13. ↑ Mankowski, Anne, ed. (February 2011). "Endangered and Threatened Species of Illinois: Status and Distribution, Volume 4 - 2009 and 2010 Changes" (PDF). Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board. p. 2. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  14. ↑ "Changes made during the 2020 Revision of the Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Species" (PDF). Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  15. ↑ Thomas, T.D.; Epifanio, J.M.; Tiemann, J.S.; Schelsky, W.M. (31 December 2012). "2012 Final Report: Redspotted Sunfish (Lepomis miniatus) reintroduction to Illinois sites of historical distribution" (PDF). State of Illinois State Wildlife Grant Program FY 2007 to 2009. Grant no. T-58-D-1. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
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