Bass (fish) facts for kids
- For other uses of the word "bass," see bass.
Bass are a type of fish that many people enjoy catching. They are popular for both eating and for the sport of fishing. You can find bass living in different places. Some bass live in freshwater, like rivers and lakes. Others live in saltwater, which means they live in the ocean. Many kinds of bass are found in or near North America.
Bass belong to a larger group of fish called Perciformes. This group is often known as "perch-like fish." In fact, the name "bass" actually comes from the word for perch!
Types of Bass
There are many different kinds of fish called bass. They are often grouped by where they live or their family.
Temperate Basses
These bass usually prefer cooler waters. Some well-known examples include:
- The striped bass (Morone saxatilis).
- The white bass (M. chrysops).
These fish are part of the Moronidae family.
Warm Water Basses
These bass like warmer waters. They are also sometimes called black basses. They belong to the sunfish family, Centrarchidae. Some common types are:
- The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).
- The smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu).
- The spotted bass (M. punctulatus).
- The Guadalupe bass (M. treculii).
- The rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris).
Other Bass Species
Many other fish around the world are also called bass, even if they are from different fish families. Here are a few examples:
- The Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata). It's part of the perch family, Percichthyidae.
- The black sea bass (Centropristis striata). This one is from the Serranidae family.
- The giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas). It's also sometimes called the black sea bass and belongs to the Polyprionidae family.
- The Chilean sea bass (Dissostichus eleginoides). This fish is more commonly known as the Patagonian toothfish.
- The European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
Images for kids
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Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
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Lateolabrax japonicus
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Micropterus salmoides — largemouth bass with assorted sunfish
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