The Virtual Aquarium of Virginia Tech--Sunfishes

Longear Sunfish, Lepomis megalotis

 

Physical Description: 
ï¿½	Deep, very compressed body
ï¿½	Black opercular spot with a pale edge
ï¿½	Small, terminal mouth
ï¿½	Large eye
ï¿½	Tail fin lobes rounded
ï¿½	Pectoral fin rounded
ï¿½	Orange-brown body with blue spots and blue wavy lines on cheek
ï¿½	Narrow black edge on anal fin

Similar species: 
ï¿½	Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
ï¿½	Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus)

Mean body size:
ï¿½	Adults are 75-150 mm total length 

Habitat:
ï¿½	Warm ponds, reservoirs, and pools of streams and rivers

Distribution in VA:
ï¿½	Tennessee and Big Sandy drainages 
ï¿½	Introduced to the New and Potomac drainages

Food Habits:  
ï¿½	Aquatic invertebrates and terrestrial insects

Reproductive Habits: 
ï¿½	Mature at age 2 
ï¿½	Spawning occurs late May to early July 
ï¿½	Males are territorial and build nests in colonies on gravel bottoms
ï¿½	Males produce a grunting noise during courtship and spawning
ï¿½	Fecundity is 2,360-22,119 eggs per female per year
ï¿½	Hybridizes with many other sunfish species

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
ï¿½	Males are brightly colored 

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):