Sunfish (Centrarchidae)

Beloved by anglers, this well-known family contains about 30 species, including popular fishes such as the smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegill sunfish. The term "panfish" often refers to the tasty, smaller fish species of the sunfish family.

Figure 1

Figure 1. Male orangespotted sunfish (breeding colors)

Family Level Identifiers (see Fig. 1):

A spinous dorsal fin with 6-13 spines followed by a soft dorsal fin.
Three or more anal fin spines.
Scales ctenoid.
Caudal fin rounded, emarginate or forked.
The males of certain genera display bright colors during the breeding season (see fig.2).
More - tips about genus identification (see below).
Also, visit our photo library on sunfishes.

Habitat:

Figure 2. Male orangespotted sunfish (breeding colors)

Most sunfish species inhabit quiet waters, such as sluggish stream reaches, pools, wetlands and lakes. Many favor the cover of macrophytes and woody debris.

Pollution Tolerance:

Generally, the sunfish family is moderately tolerant of pollution. However, intolerant species are represented by fishes such as the smallmouth bass and flier. See Table 1 for more detailed information.

Hybridization:

Certain taxa within family Centrarchidae are notrious for hybridizing. Most notably, the genus Lepomis, which freely hybridizes under a variety of conditions, although hybrids may be more commonplace in degraded streams.

Use in IBI:

The sunfish family is an integral part of IBI scoring. Metrics that evaluate this family directly include Metric 3: Number and Identity of Sunfish Species and Metric 6: Percent Green Sunfish. In addition, sunfish are counted and speciated for a number of other metrics that evaluate the fish community as a whole (e.g. Metric 1: Total Number of Species).

Table 1. Tolerance designations for selected sunfish.
Species Name	Common Name	Pollution Tolerance	Habitat Disturbance
Ambloplites rupestris	Rock bass	M	I
Centrarchus macropterus	Flier	M	I
Enneacanthus chaetodon	Blackbanded Sunfish	I	NR
Enneacanthus gloriosus	Bluespotted Sunfish	M	NR
Lepomis cyanellus	Green Sunfish	T	T
Lepomis gibbosus	Pumpkinseed Sunfish	M	NR
Lepomis humillis	Orangespotted Sunfish	M	M
Lepomis macrochirus	Bluegill Sunfish	M	M
Lepmis marginatus	Dollar Sunfish	NR	M
Lepomis megalotis	Longear Sunfish	I	M
Micropterus dolomieu	Smallmouth Bass	M	I
Micropterus punctulatus	Spotted Bass	M	M
Micropterus salmoides	Largemouth Bass	M	M
Pomoxis annularis	White Crappie	M	M
Poxomis nigromaculatus	Black Crappie	M	M

Key
Pollution Tolerance	Habitat Disturbance
T = Tolerant	T = Tolerant
M = Intermediate	MT = Moderately Tolerant
I = Intolerant	MI = Moderately Intolerant
NR = No ranking	I = Intolerant
	NR = No ranking

Genus Level Identifiers:

General things to look for:

Opercular flap length, flexibility and border color.
Number of dorsal and anal fin spines.
Color patterns.

GenusAmbloplites(rock basses)- Typical bright sunfish coloration absent. Sometimes called "redeye" due to distinctive red iris. Lower jaw projecting. Dorsal fin with 10 or 11 spines. Anal fin with 5 or more spines and 11 or fewer soft rays.

Genus Centrarchus (flier)- A single species exists within this genus. Dorsal fin with 12-13 spines. Anal fin with 7 or 8 spines and 14 or more soft rays.

Genus Enneacanthus(sunfish)- Caudel fin slightly rounded. Dorsal fin with 8 or 9 spines. Anal fin with 3 spines.

Genus Lepomis (sunfish)- Often brightly colored, especially \ during the breeding season (see fig. 2). Dorsal fin with 9 to 12 spines and 10-12 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines.

Genus Micropterus (black basses)- Body elongate. Distinctive notch between spinous and soft dorsal fin. Dorsal fin with usually 10 spines and 10-15 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines.

Genus Pomoxis (crappies)- Body deep and compressed. Dorsal fin with 5 to 8 spines and 14-16 rays. Anal fin with 5-7 spines.

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