404 Lake Maxifikuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



49. RED-EARED SUNFISH 



EUPOMOTIS HEROS (Baird & Girard) 



(Plate 25) 



The Red-eared Sunfish is found from northern Indiana to Flor- 

 ida and the Rio Grande, It is an inhabitant of lowland streams 

 and ponds. Although usually regarded as rare, it is not especially 

 uncommon at Lake Maxinkuckee. Among the fishermen in gen- 

 eral it is probably confused with the other sunfishes, although one 

 of the fishermen of the lake pointed one out as "Green Sunfish" a 

 name generally applied to Apomotis cyanellus where that species 

 is well known. During the seining operations about the lake, in 

 the 612 hauls, 75 specimens were taken, the maximum number 

 in 1 haul being 8. Specimens were taken in 29 of the hauls. The 

 shortest specimen obtained was 2.25 inches long, from which they 

 varied in length to about 10 inches. 



The habits of this species do not difi'er greatly from those of 

 other members of the genus. Its food consists of worms, larvse, 

 small crustaceans, small mollusks and the like. Its parasitic ene- 

 mies do not appear to be many. Only one example was examined 

 with parasites ; these were found in the region of the vent and 

 resembled Gordius. 



The spawning season of this sunfish is in May and June. 



Little distinctive can be said as to its game qualities ; they are 

 essentially the same as those of the common pumpkinseed. It takes 

 the hook readily if baited with angleworm, grub or cut bait. 

 It takes hold cautiously but dashes away promptly and fights well 

 for so small a fish. It is a delicious pan-fish. 



Our specimens disagree in some respects from current descrip- 

 tions of E. heros; the maxillary does not reach fully to the eye, 

 the longest dorsal spine does not reach to the posterior border of 

 the pupil, and the pectoral does not reach beyond the middle of the 

 anal. 



The following is a description of one of our specimens : 



Head 3 in length ; depth 2.3 ; eye 4.5 in head ; snout 3.25 ; max- 

 illary 3.3; mandible 2.6; preorbital 6.2; interorbital 3.25; dorsal X, 

 11, the spines very stout, the longest, (6th) 2.5 in head, longest 

 ray 1.8 in head; base of dorsal 2.25 in length, its base extending 

 over 25 rows of scales; anal III, 11, the spines, especially the third, 

 very stout and much longer than the others, 2.5 in head ; longest 

 anal ray 2 in head ; pectoral long, rather narrow and sharp, reach- 

 ing somewhat beyond origin of anal, and contained 1.1 times in 

 head; ventral rather acutely rounded, its stout spine 2.8 in head, 



