The Virtual Aquarium of Virginia Tech--Sunfishes

Redbreast Sunfish, Lepomis auritus

Physical Description:
ï¿½ Deep, very compressed body
ï¿½ Very long, dark earflap
ï¿½ Medium-sized, terminal mouth
ï¿½ Large eye
ï¿½ Tail fin lobes slightly rounded to a point
ï¿½ Pectoral fin rounded
ï¿½ Pelvic fin with small filamentous projection of longest ray
ï¿½ Males have bright orange breast and belly
ï¿½ Scales may have pale blue iridescent marks
ï¿½ Side may have orange or yellow-orange spots or bars

Similar species:
ï¿½ Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
ï¿½ Spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus)

Mean body size:
ï¿½ Adults are 90-185 mm standard length

Habitat:
ï¿½ Found in pools of warm streams and rivers of low gradient

Distribution in VA:
ï¿½ Atlantic slope drainages
ï¿½ Stocked in all drainages west of the Atlantic slope drainages

Food Habits:
ï¿½ Insects, crayfish, other arthropods, mollusks, and sometimes fish

Reproductive Habits:
ï¿½ Mature at age 2
ï¿½ Spawning occurs May to August at water temperatures of 16-28ï¿½C
ï¿½ Males build nests over silt-free or lightly silted sand and gravel in cover
ï¿½ Nests are usually grouped closely together in calm pool margins
ï¿½ Fecundity is about 963-8,250 eggs per female
ï¿½ Can naturally hybridize with L. cyanellus, L. gibbosus, L. macrochirus, and L. microlophus

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance:
ï¿½ Good sport on light tackle
ï¿½ Does not thrive in ponds
ï¿½ Good to eat

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):