The Virtual Aquarium of Virginia Tech--Sunfishes

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus

 
Physical Description: 
ï¿½	Deep, very compressed body
ï¿½	Short, round, dark-margined earflap
ï¿½	Black spot in rear of second dorsal fin
ï¿½	Small, terminal mouth
ï¿½	Large eye
ï¿½	Tail fin edge almost straight with rounded lobes
ï¿½	Pectoral fin elongate and pointed
ï¿½	Vertical, dark-colored bars on side 
ï¿½	Side is blue or blue-green with a purple luster

Similar species: 
ï¿½	Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
ï¿½	Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus)

Mean body size:
ï¿½	Adults are 80-220 mm standard length 

Habitat:
ï¿½	Pools and low to moderate gradient streams
ï¿½	Hard or silted substrates

Distribution in VA:
ï¿½	Big Sandy and Tennessee drainages, and maybe the Pee Dee drainage
ï¿½	Introduced to all the other drainages and Delmarva Peninsula

Food Habits:  
ï¿½	Young eat plankton
ï¿½	Adults eat small aquatic and terrestrial insects and plants

Reproductive Habits: 
ï¿½	Mature at age 1 or 2 
ï¿½	Spawning occurs May to September 
ï¿½	Males build colonial nests in shallows on sand or gravel
ï¿½	Females spawn several times a year
ï¿½	Fecundity is about 80,000 eggs per female per year

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
ï¿½	Popular sport fish 
ï¿½	In overpopulated ponds, they compete with each other

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):