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Largemouth bass,
Micropterus salmoides. |
Class: Bony fish
Order: Perch, darters, sunfishes, bass
Family: Sunfishes
Species found in the Rideau River:
Rock bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black
crappie
Characteristics of the family:
Sunfishes (which are sometimes called pan fish) have oval shaped bodies.
They have dorsal fins that are divided into a spiny half in front and
soft-rayed half behind. There is no adipose fin. The anal fin has three
or more spines. The tail is moderately forked and gill covers have a rearward
projection called a gill flap.
| Description |
The
largemouth bass is the largest member of the sunfish family.
Compared to other sunfishes, it is relatively elongated and
robust. The body of the largemouth bass is greenish in colour
with a pronounced black stripe running along the side. |
| Size |
20
cm to 38 cm |
| Distribution |
Range
through Ontario and Quebec in Canada and throughout the eastern
half of the United States. It is found in the Rideau River south
of Ottawa. |
| Habitat |
Largemouth
bass prefer areas with clear water, vegetation and rocky bottoms. |
| Food |
Insects,
crustaceans, molluscs, small fish. Larger sunfishes eat mostly
fish, crayfish and frogs. |
| Life
cycle |
Sunfishes
spawn in spring or early summer. Eggs are laid in round nests
dug in vegetated areas. Males guard the eggs and newly hatched
young for up to a month. |
| Interesting
facts |
Sometimes
largemouth bass share their nests with golden shiners! These
small minnows scatter their eggs in largemouth bass nests and
then abandon them. |
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Largemouth bass,
Micropterus salmoides. |
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