Bony fish · Perciformes · Centrarchidae
Bluegill Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
Weight
1.2 kg on average
Size
up to 41 cm
Lifespan
10 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Crepuscular
Active above all at dawn and dusk.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- The male digs a bowl-shaped nest in shallow water and defends the eggs and larvae alone.
- It has been released across half the world for angling, and several countries attribute negative ecological impacts to it.
- In some lakes the species divides into two forms, one pelagic and one bottom-dwelling, differing in body shape and diet.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
- Habitat & environment
- Streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands of North America east of the Rockies, in temperate water of 1 to 36 °C
Sources consulted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluegill
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapWhere to watch it
Parques y spots de buceo donde se ha documentado esta especie — se muestran 17 de 45 documentados.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Bluegill Sunfish — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Least ConcernAmerican Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
Alligator Gar
Atractosteus spatula
Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Pike
Esox lucius
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about bluegill sunfish.
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