Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)

General data

Main name: Green sunfish
Climates: Subtropical, Temperate
Habitat: Freshwater
Native: North America
Introduced: Europe, Africa
Distribution: Mississippi River, St. Lawrence River, Colorado (Texas), Trinity (Texas), Klamath River, Delaware River, View all... Savannah river, Nueces River, Lake Washington, Santa Ynez River

Classification

Genus: Lepomis - Sunfishes
Family: Centrarchidae - Sunfishes
Order: Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes
Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes

Description

The green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae). A panfish popular with anglers, the green sunfish is also kept as an aquarium fish by hobbyists. They are usually caught by accident, while fishing for other game fish. Green sunfish can be caught with live bait such as nightcrawlers, waxworms, mealworms, and blood worms. Grocery store baits such as pieces of hot dog or corn kernels can even catch fish. Green sunfish are aggressive and will hit small lures. They can be caught with fly fishing tackle. The green sunfish is said to have polarization sensitive vision not found in humans and other vertebrates mostly which helps in enhancement of visibility of target objects in scattering media, using a method called polarization difference imaging. Geographic distribution The green sunfish is native to a wide area of North America east of the Rocky Mountains, from the Hudson Bay basin in Canada, to the Gulf Coast in the United States, and northern Mexico. They are specifically indigenous to a number of lakes and rivers such as the Great Lakes and some of the basins of the Mississippi River. Green sunfish have been introduced to many bodies of water all across the United States, so are frequently encountered. L. cyanellus has been transplanted to many countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe, where it has become established in some. Description The green sunfish is blue-green in color on its back and sides with yellow-flecked bony-ridged (ctenoid) scales, as well as yellow coloration on the ventral sides. The gill covers and sides of head have broken bright blue stripes, causing some to mistakenly confuse them with bluegill. They also have a dark spot located near the back end of the dorsal fin, the bases of the anal fins, and on the ear plate. It has a relatively big mouth and long snout that extends to beneath the middle of the eye. Its pectoral fins are short with rounded edges containing 13-14 pectoral fin rays, a dorsal fin with about 10 dorsal spines and a homocercal tail. The typical length ranges from about 3-7 in and usually weighs less than a pound. The green sunfish reaches a maximum recorded length of about 30 cm (12 in), with a maximum recorded weight of 960 g (2.2 lb). Identification of sunfish species from one another can sometimes be difficult as these species frequently hybridize. Habitat The species prefers areas in sluggish backwaters, lakes, and ponds with gravel, sand, or bedrock bottoms. They also can be found in very muddy waters and are able to tolerate poor water conditions. Green sunfish tend to spend their time hiding around rocks, submerged logs, plants, and other things that provide cover.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Coelacanthi - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
    
    Centrarchidae - Sunfishes->
    
    Micropterus - Black basses->
    
    Lepomis - Sunfishes->
    
    Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)
    
    Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
    
    Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus)
    
    Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
    
    Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
    
    Orangespotted sunfish (Lepomis humilis)
    
    Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus)
    
    Northern sunfish (Lepomis peltastes)
    
    Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
    
    Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)
    
    Spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus)
    
    Bantam sunfish (Lepomis symmetricus)
    
    Redspotted sunfish (Lepomis miniatus)
    
    Rio Grande Longear Sunfish (Lepomis aquilensis)
    
    Swampland Longear Sunfish (Lepomis solis)
    
    Ambloplites - Rock basses->
    
    Pomoxis - Crappies->
    
    Enneacanthus - Banded sunfishes->
    
    Centrarchus - Flier->
    
    Archoplites - Sacramento perch->
    
    Acantharchus - Mud sunfishes->
    
    Elassoma - Pygmy sunfishes->
    
    Sinipercidae - Chinese perches->
    
    Percalatidae - Australian basses->
    
    Percichthyidae - Temperate perches->
    
    Terapontidae - Grunters or Tigerperches->
    
    Girellidae - Nibblers->
    
    Dichistiidae - Galjoen fishes->
    
    Chironemidae - Kelpfishes->
    
    Latridae - Trumpeters->
    
    Scorpididae - Scorpididae->
    
    Microcanthidae - Stripeys->
    
    Kyphosidae - Sea chubs->
    
    Cirrhitoidea - Hawkfishes->
    
    Aplodactylidae - Marblefishes->
    
    Cheilodactylidae - Morwongs->
    
    Cirrhitidae - Hawkfishes->
    
    Elassomatidae - Pygmy sunfishes->
    
    Enoplosidae - Oldwife->
    
    Kuhliidae - Aholeholes->
    
    Oplegnathidae - Knifejaws->
    
    Parascorpididae - Jutjaws->
    
    Perciliidae - Southern basses->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipneusti - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->