Species: Lepomis macrochirus
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Body is deep and strongly compressed from side to side. Anal fin has 3 spines. Tail fin is shallowly forked. Spiny front part and soft rear part of dorsal fin are united. Rear part of dorsal fin has a large black spot (faint in young). Often there is a dusky spot at the rear of the anal fin. The sides have dar bars (except in turbid water) that may be thin and chainlike on young bluegill. Pectoral fin is long and pointed. Ear flap is black all the way to the edge. Sides and back are olive with yellow and green flecks. Breeding males have a blue head and back and a bright red-orange breast and belly. Maximum length is around 16.2 inches (41 cm).
Classification
Actinopterygii
Perciformes
Centrarchidae
Lepomis
NatureServe
Classification
Ecology and Life History
Body is deep and strongly compressed from side to side. Anal fin has 3 spines. Tail fin is shallowly forked. Spiny front part and soft rear part of dorsal fin are united. Rear part of dorsal fin has a large black spot (faint in young). Often there is a dusky spot at the rear of the anal fin. The sides have dar bars (except in turbid water) that may be thin and chainlike on young bluegill. Pectoral fin is long and pointed. Ear flap is black all the way to the edge. Sides and back are olive with yellow and green flecks. Breeding males have a blue head and back and a bright red-orange breast and belly. Maximum length is around 16.2 inches (41 cm).