long ear sunfish
- Thread starter iLIVE4ThIs0309
- Start date
They are relatively small sunfish with individuals rarely reaching a total length of more than 12 cm. Females are generally slightly smaller than males.
Very Odd.. I originally thought the above fish was a redbreast but it has a light border around it's ear flap. Where did you catch that fish. It looks nothing like our local longears.
Longears don't usually get more than 4-5" where I come from (northern Illinois) but I've seen wild fish stocked in ponds get much larger.
Longears don't usually get more than 4-5" where I come from (northern Illinois) but I've seen wild fish stocked in ponds get much larger.
that fish was caught in the Escatawba River, south mississippi. About 30 min west of Mobile, AL.
I tried to get an ID with this pict and several people told me that it was some type of hybrid, but i have caught similer looking fish in the same spot for 10 years or so. they are probably some type of regional oddity.
I tried to get an ID with this pict and several people told me that it was some type of hybrid, but i have caught similer looking fish in the same spot for 10 years or so. they are probably some type of regional oddity.
SUBSPECIES
Some authorities split the species into two subspecies. The central longear sunfish, L. megalotis megalotis, is generally found in the southeastern portion of the range, on the east side of the Mississippi River, and the southern half of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The northern longear sunfish, L. megalotis peltastes, on the other hand, is found primarily in the northwest portion of the longears range, from Wisconsin, Minnesota, northern Ohio through Michigan and into Ontario.
Trautman (1957) distinguishes between the two subspecies by saying the northern longear sunfish, L. megalotis megalotis, is generally smaller, with a less pronounced opercular flap that is horizontal in orientation. The central longear, L. m. peltastes, is generally larger and has a longer opercular flap at a 45° angle, posterior end higher.
Some authorities split the species into two subspecies. The central longear sunfish, L. megalotis megalotis, is generally found in the southeastern portion of the range, on the east side of the Mississippi River, and the southern half of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The northern longear sunfish, L. megalotis peltastes, on the other hand, is found primarily in the northwest portion of the longears range, from Wisconsin, Minnesota, northern Ohio through Michigan and into Ontario.
Trautman (1957) distinguishes between the two subspecies by saying the northern longear sunfish, L. megalotis megalotis, is generally smaller, with a less pronounced opercular flap that is horizontal in orientation. The central longear, L. m. peltastes, is generally larger and has a longer opercular flap at a 45° angle, posterior end higher.
