Long-eared Sunfish 



Indian River region. It is probably most abundant about New 

 Orleans. It gets to be about 6 inches in length and is of but little 

 value as a food-fish. 



Body oblong and somewhat regularly elliptical; mouth rather 

 large; opercular flap short and broad, entirely black or dark green; 

 gillrakers stout but not very short; pectoral long. Colour, side of 

 male with about 14 rows of red spots, those of lower rows brightest; 

 middle of side with some black spots; some black under pectoral; 

 belly orange with red spots. 



In southern Indiana and Illinois is found L. gannani which may 

 be not distinct from miniatus. 



Long-eared Sunfish 



Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque) 



One of our most abundant sunfishes from Michigan and Minnesota 

 southward to South Carolina and the Rio Grande. It is found in most 

 streams, especially in clear brooks. It reaches a length of 7 or 8 

 inches and does not differ essentially from any of the other smaller 

 sunfishes, either as a panfish or in its game qualities. 



It is extremely variable in form and colour, but is always one of 

 the most brightly coloured of fresh- water fishes. 



347 



