Actinopteri (ray-finned fishes) > Centrarchiformes (Basses) > Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Etymology: Micropterus:Greek, mikros = small + Greek,pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335); dolomieu:Named after M. Dolomieu, French minerologist and friend of Lacepède (Ref. 1998). More on author: Lacepède.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology
North America: St. Lawrence-Great Lakes system, Hudson Bay (Red River) and Mississippi River basins from southern Quebec in Canada to North Dakota and south to northern Alabama and eastern Oklahoma in the USA. Introduced into many countries for sport fishing. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm27.0, range 22 - ? cm Max length : 69.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 86798); common length : 8.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3549); max. published weight: 5.4 kg (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 26 years (Ref. 46974)
Inhabits shallow rocky areas of lakes and clear and gravel-bottom runs and flowing pools of rivers (Ref. 86798). Young feed on plankton and immature aquatic insects while adults take in crayfish, fishes, and aquatic and terrestrial insects (Refs. 1998, 10294, 44091). Is sometimes cannibalistic (Ref. 30578). Preyed upon by fishes and turtles (Ref. 1998). Builds nest, usually at three or four feet deep (Ref. 120821). Excellent food fish (Ref. 1998).
The male builds the nest in shallow waters of lakes and rivers, on sand, gravel, or rocky bottoms. Nest building usually occurs within 150 yards of where his nest was built in previous years. The pair swims about the nest, rubbing and nipping each other and eventually come to rest on the bottom. Actual spawning occurs and lasts for 5 seconds. The pair then encircles the nest for about 25-45 seconds, before settling to spawn again. This goes on for 2 hours. After spawning, the female leaves the nest and may spawn with another male in another nest. Males guard the eggs and young. (Ref. 1998).
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 2011. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 663p. (Ref. 86798)
