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.