Lepomis punctatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes).--The spotted sunfish 
occurs from Illinois south to Texas and east to the Atlantic Coast 
of Florida and the Carolinas (Fig. 4). In Illinois, the subspecies 
L. p. mintatus is extremely sporadic and at present known only 
from the middle Illinois River valley and swamps in Union County 
(Fig. 4). In the Pine Hills swamp, it is distinctly uncommon, 
comprising only 1.6 percent of the total sample and represented by 
only 21 individuals. Over 70 percent of the specimens taken were 
at station 8, Table 6, in quiet waters vegetated with Nelumbo 
Lutea, Typha latifolia, and CeratophyllLum demersum., A few indi- 
‘viduals were taken at several other stations. 
Although uncommon in the swamp, the species was nevertheless more 
common than had been anticipated, and the presence of young 
indicates recent reproduction. In optimal habitat, it may have a 
density of 1 individual per 6 square yards but throughout the 
Swamp its density is negligent. Since it was only discovered in 
the swamp a few years ago, no data are available on its former 
abundance. The species is probably not endangered and its 
population levels may fluctuate from time to time. It is apparent- 
ly more common in Wolf Lake, which during times of high water is 
connected with the Pine Hills swamp and may serve as a reservoir 
for recruitment. 
New Illinois localities: Wolf Lake, Wolf Lake, Union Co., 
21 June 1973. 
Lepomis Symmetricus Forbes.--The bantam sunfish was originally 
described from Pekin in central I]linois, but it is a southern 
fish and its present range is the lower Mississippi Embayment 
and east Texas (Fig. 5). In Illinois, it is known only from 
two localities in Union County (Fig. 5). In the Pine Hills 
Swamp, it is uncommon, the 31 individuals taken making up only 
2.3 percent of the total sample. More than 80 percent of the 
Individuals were taken at station 8, Table 6, but a few individ- 
uals were taken at several stations. The species prefers the 
quiet well-vegetated pools that also harbor the spotted sunfish 
and it avoids open water. 
Gunning and Lewis (1955) found that the bantam sunfish made up 
five percent of their total sample, a figure probably not signi- 
ficantly different from the present. In optimal habitat, its 
density may approach 1 individual per 3 square meters, but 
throughout the entire swamp its density is very slight. It might be 
locally more abundant when individuals aggregate to spawn. The 
species is probably not endangered in the Pine Hills swamp, but 
it is less common there than in Wolf Lake, where we are studying 
its life history. Presence of young and various age-classes 
indicate reproduction in both Pine Hills and Wolf Lake. 
New Illinois localities: Wolf Lake, Wolf Lake, Union Co., 
21 June 1973 and subsequently. 
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