FISHES 113 



Key to the Species of Eupomotis 



Hi Xo scarlet on the opercular flap. 



b2 Border of opercular flap blood red in male, pale in female; scales 



34 to 39 E. Iteros. 



bs Border of opercular flap orange; scales 42 to 44 E. holbrookii. 



3.2 Lower posterior border of opercular flap scarlet E. gibbosus. 



E. heros (Baird & Girard). Head 3; depth 2.4; color dark greenish 

 above, yellowish below; rays of dorsal fin X, 11; anal III, 11; scales 

 6-34 to 39-14: Indiana to Florida and the Rio Grande basin; rare. 



E. holbrookii (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Length 250 mm.; head 3 to 

 3.5; depth 2 to 2.25; color dusky olive; silvery below; throat yellow; 

 rays of dorsal fin X, 10 to 12; anal III, 9 to 11; scales 6-44 or 45-14: 

 Virginia to Florida; common in lowland streams. 



E. gibbosus (L.). Common sunfish; pumpkin-seed. Length 200 

 mm.; head 3 to 3.25; depth 1.75 to 2; color greenish olive above, shaded 

 with bluish; sides spotted with orange; belly orange yellow; rays of 

 dorsal fin X, 10 to 12; anal III, 10 or 11; scales 6-40 to 47-13; body 

 ovate: Maine to Minnesota; southward east of the Alleghenies to 

 Florida, but rather rare towards the south; in the northern parts 

 only of the Mississippi Valley; very common, especially in ponds; eggs 

 deposited in a nest made in shallow water by the male, who scoops out a 

 depression in the bottom about a foot in diameter and several inches 

 deep, which he guards after the eggs are laid and the young are hatched. 



17. Micropterus Lacepede. Black bass. Body elongate; mouth 

 very large, oblique; lower jaw projecting; supplementary maxillary bone 

 broad; scales small, ctenoid; lateral line complete; dorsal fin with a deep 

 notch between the spinous and the soft-rayed scaly portions; hinder 

 margin of tail concave: 2 species, both important game and good 

 fishes. 



M. dolomieu Lac. Small-mouthed black bass. Length 600 mm.; 

 weight up to 7 lbs.; scales on the cheek in about 17 rows; head 2.5; 

 depth 3.3 ; color a uniform dull green, with a golden lustre ; 3 longitudinal 

 bands of the head back of the eye; young with dark spots; rays of 

 dorsal fin X, 13 to 15; anal III, 10 to 12; scales 11-72 to 75-17: St. 

 LawTence River to Dakota; southward to South Carolina and Texas; 

 common, especially in clear, cool streams and lakes; introduced into 

 New England and many other places. 



.1/. pseudaplites Hubbs. Similar to the above; scales on the 

 cheek larger; side with a black band (fading with age); scales 59 to 66; 

 soft rays of fins 11 or 12: Valley of the Ohio River in Kentucky and 

 Ohio; south to Kansas and Texas; common. 



