freshwater
Longear Sunfish
Lepomis megalotis
Deep, compressed, oval-shaped body; vibrant coloration featuring iridescent blue and emerald wavy streaks on the head and cheeks; bright orange or yellow belly and flanks with brownish-red spots; distinctively long, dark, floppy opercular flap (earflap) often bordered with a thin light margin;…
- Habitat
- Freshwater habitats including small to medium streams, r…
- Size & weight
- Typically ranges from 4 to 7 inches in length, weighing…
- Diet
- Carnivorous, feeding primarily on aquatic insects, insec…
Identified More freshwater →
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Physical characteristics
Deep, compressed, oval-shaped body; vibrant coloration featuring iridescent blue and emerald wavy streaks on the head and cheeks; bright orange or yellow belly and flanks with brownish-red spots; distinctively long, dark, floppy opercular flap (earflap) often bordered with a thin light margin; spiny dorsal fin connected to a soft-rayed dorsal fin.
Habitat & distribution
Freshwater habitats including small to medium streams, rivers, ponds, and shallow areas of clear lakes with abundant aquatic vegetation, submerged logs, or rock outcrops.
Behavior
Diurnal and largely solitary or forming loose aggregations. They are territorial during the breeding season, defending small nesting sites.
Diet
Carnivorous, feeding primarily on aquatic insects, insect larvae (such as midge and mayfly larvae), small crustaceans, and occasionally small fish or fish eggs.
Reproduction
Males construct saucer-shaped nests in shallow water gravel or sand substrates during late spring and summer. They court females, fertilize the eggs, and aggressively guard the eggs and fry until they disperse.
Ecological role
Acts as both a predator of small invertebrates and prey for larger piscivorous fish, wading birds, and aquatic mammals, helping to regulate aquatic insect populations.
Similar species
Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) and Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Distinguished from pumpkinseeds by the much longer opercular flap and wavy blue facial markings, and from bluegills by the lack of a dark spot at the rear base of the dorsal fin.
Identification tips
Look for the extremely elongated black earflap, vibrant turquoise facial stripes, and orange-spotted body sides.
Interesting facts
Despite their small size, male longear sunfish are fiercely protective parents during the spawning season, often chasing away much larger intruders from their nesting territory.