lOO UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) 

 Large-mouthed Black Bass (Fig. 50) 



Labrus salmoides Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., p. 716, 1802 (South Carolina). 

 Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) — Juday, Univ. Colo. Studies, Vol. II, p. 1 13, 1903 (Boulder) ; 

 JuDAY, Bull. U.S. Fish Com., for igo4, p. 227, 1905 (Cubertson's Lake). 



Body somewhat elongate, distinctly compressed; depth 3 to 3.25 in the 

 length to the base of the caudal; head large, compressed; interorbital region 

 somewhat flattened; length of the head 3 or a little less in the length of the body; 

 eye large, situated in the anterior half of the head near the latero-dorsal margin, 

 diameter of the eye 5 (young) to 7.5 in the length of the head; nostril small, 

 situated slightly in front of the eye and a little below the dorsal margin of the eye; 

 mouth quite large, terminal, angle of the mouth when closed reaching to behind 

 the level of the anterior margin of the eye (adults), posterior margin of the maxil- 

 lary reaching to behind the orbit, lower jaw slightly exceeding the upper; pre- 

 maxillaries protractile; spinous and soft dorsals narrowly united at the base, the 

 soft dorsal the longer and the higher, the length of its longest ray almost twice 

 that of the longest spine; spines X, sometimes XI, rays 12 or 13; pectorals short, 

 their length about 2 in the head; ventrals equal to or a little longer than the pec- 

 torals; base of the ventrals almost or quite confluent, inserted on a level with the 

 last pectoral rays; anal short, length of its base less than that of the spinous dorsal, 

 anal spines III, rays 10 or 11; caudal peduncle broad, somewhat upturned, caudal 

 large, lunate; scales rather large, cycloid or feebly ctenoid in the suprapectoral 

 region, becoming strongly ctenoid on the caudal peduncle, 7 or 8, 60-70, 14 to 17; 

 lateral line prominent, distinctly arched dorsaUy. 



General color olive-green, darker dorsaUy, sides with a metallic to almost 

 brassy luster; a very strong, dark-green to almost black lateral stripe, covering 

 portions of three or four rows of scales, extending from the base of the caudal to 

 the posterior margin of the eye, continuous and very distinct in young specimens, 

 more or less interrupted in medium-sized individuals and often quite indistinct in 

 large adults; numerous small dusky spots, covering portions of two or three scales 

 in the region below the lateral stripe, these spots being especially prominent in 

 young and medium-sized individuals; under parts whitish, more or less overlaid 

 with dusky in the region below the operculum and below the lower jaw; a light 

 stripe crossing the operculum from the tip of the snout toward the pectoral; 

 maxillary dark green above, lighter below; top of the head very dark green; eye 

 dark red; caudal, pectorals and ventrals dusky, dorsal hyaline, spines and rays 

 outlined with dusky, anal yellowish with dusky spines and rays. 



The Large-mouthed Black Bass, or Straw Bass as it is often called, is one of 

 the most important of the North American game fishes. From the standpoint of 

 the angler it ranks among the very best while its general hardiness and rapid growth 

 make it suitable for many types of inland waters. Besides it is a fish of good size, 



