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Centrarchiformes (Basses) >
Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Etymology: Lepomis: Greek, lepis = scaled + Greek, poma = gill cover, operculum (Ref. 45335, 79012); symmetricus: symmetricus meaning symmetrical (Ref. 10294).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Subtropical; 40°N - 29°N
North America: USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 5.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. reported age: 3.00 years (Ref. 12193)
Occur in swamps and mud-bottomed and heavily vegetated ponds, lakes and sloughs (Ref. 5723, 10294). Young feed primarily on small crustaceans (ostracods, amphipods, etc.), midge larvae, and small dragonfly nymphs; adults' diet is similar but also contain snails, aquatic hemipterans and terrestrial insects (Ref. 10294).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p. (Ref. 5723)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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