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Species
Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819
IUCN
NCBI
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Like other sunfish, bluegill have very deep and highly compressed bodies. In other words, they are "tall" and "flat." They have a small mouth on a short head. The dorsal fin is continuous, with the front part spiny and the back part soft and round with a dark smudge at the base. The tail fin is slightly forked but rounded. The body is mainly olive green with yellowish underneath. Their name "bluegill" comes from the iridescent blue and purple region on the cheek and gill cover (opercle). A close look reveals six to eight olive-colored vertical bars on the sides.
Typically, adults are between 10 and 15 cm but they can grow as large as 41 cm.
Young bluegill are a paler version of the adults, usually silver with a slight purple sheen.
Range mass: 2.2 (high) kg.
Range length: 41.0 (high) cm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
- Williams, T. 1996. "Fish capsule report: Lepomis macrochirus" (On-line). Accessed 26 March 2002 at http://www.umich.edu/~bio440/fishcapsules96/Lepomis.html.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Lepomis_macrochirus/ |
The very small mouth of this fish is an adaptation to eating small animals. Bluegills are carnivores, primarily eating invertebrates such as Gastropoda, Oligochaeta, Malacostraca, aquatic Insecta, small Malacostraca, and zooplankton. They can also consume small fish such as Pimephales notatus and plant material such as algae. Young bluegill eat Oligochaeta and zooplankton, staying under cover while adults feed more in the open.
Animal Foods: fish; insects; mollusks; aquatic or marine worms; aquatic crustaceans; zooplankton
Plant Foods: algae
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Lepomis_macrochirus/ |
Males make nests in colonies with from 20 to 50 other males in shallow water less than 1 m deep. The nests are circular shallow depressions, about 20 to 30cm in diameter, in sand or fine gravel from which the male has fanned all debris (Murdy et al., 1997).
Once his nest is made, a male waits in it and grunts to attract females. When one enters, both male and female swim in circles. Eventually they stop and touch bellies, the male in an upright posture and the female leaning at an angle. They release eggs and sperm and then start the process again by swimming in circles.
A female deposits her eggs into several nests, and a male's nest may be used by several females (Williams, 1996).
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Spawning occurs when water is between 17 and 31 degrees C; in the Chesapeake Bay area it can begin when water temperatures reach 12 degrees C. Females can carry up to 50,000 eggs which take several days to hatch. After a week, young leave the nest.
Breeding season: Breeding occurs from May to September (Chesapeake Bay).
Average number of offspring: 50000.0.
Average gestation period: 3.0 days.
Average : 7.0 days.
Average time to independence: 3 days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1.0 to 2.0 years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1.0 to 2.0 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous
Males guard nests both before and after females lay eggs. Paternal care involves fanning the eggs and chasing away predators.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male)
- Murdy, E., R. Baker, J. Musick. 1997. Fishes of Chesapeake Bay. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- Conservation Commission of Missouri, 2002. "Bluegill fishing in Missouri" (On-line). Accessed 26 March 2002 at http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/fish/fishid/bluegill/.
- Williams, T. 1996. "Fish capsule report: Lepomis macrochirus" (On-line). Accessed 26 March 2002 at http://www.umich.edu/~bio440/fishcapsules96/Lepomis.html.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepomis_macrochirus/ |
This is an important game fish in the United States. Bluegill are fairly easy to catch and are good to eat. They are also used to stock rivers and lakes with food for largemouth bass, another important game fish.
Positive Impacts: food ; ecotourism
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepomis_macrochirus/ |
Length: 41 cm
Bluegill are an important prey species for larger fish predators. They also impact insect populations by eating aquatic larvae.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepomis_macrochirus/ |
Spawning occurs over an often extended period in spring and summer. Eggs hatch in about 2-3 days. Males guard the eggs and hatchlings. Spawners may be 1 year old, but usually are 2-3 years old. Bluegill often spawn in colonies that may include dozens of crowded craterlike or saucer-shaped nests.
Comments: Has been cultured extensively, almost entirely in brood ponds. This is the usual forage fish stocked in combination with largemouth bass in southwestern U.S. (Sublette et al. 1990).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Lepomis+macrochirus |
Maximum size: 410 mm TL
Bluegill travel in schools and come into shallow water only at night. During the day they try to remain hidden.
Known Predators:
- great blue herons (Ardea herodias)
- belted kingfishers (Cercyle alcyon)
- raccoons (Procyon lotor)
- brown trout (Salmo trutta)
- largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
- striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepomis_macrochirus/ |