Centrarchidae Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Sunfish Temporal range: Late Eocene to Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N

Flier (Centrarchus macropterus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Superfamily:	Percoidea
Family:	Centrarchidae Bleeker, 1859
Type species
Centrarchus macropterus Lacépède, 1801
Subfamilies
Centrarchinae Lepominae

native range of sunfish family

Centrarchidae, commonly called the sunfish family, is a group of freshwater ray-finned fish native to North America. This family belongs to the biological order Centrarchiformes. It includes 38 known species, with 34 living today. Famous members include the largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, rock bass, and crappies. Many are popular game fish caught by North American anglers. They are often called panfish in sport fishing.

Types and Features of Sunfish
Habitat and Life Cycle
- Reproduction and Nesting
Where Sunfish Live Around the World
Images for kids
See also

Types and Features of Sunfish

Sunfishes are known for their flattened bodies and joined dorsal fins along their backs. They belong to several groups called genera. The two most famous groups are Micropterus and Lepomis.

Fish in the genus Lepomis, like the pumpkinseed, have round bodies and smaller mouths. They slurp up bugs and snails using suction feeding. Fish in the genus Micropterus, like the largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, are longer and more torpedo-shaped. They chase prey with big open mouths, using ram feeding. The tiny black-banded sunfish grows to only 8 cm (3.1 in). In contrast, the largemouth bass can grow to nearly 1 m (3.3 ft) long. Their closest cousins are tiny fishes called pygmy sunfishes from the family Elassomatidae.

Habitat and Life Cycle

Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

Sunfishes live in clear, warm waters like ponds, lakes, slow rivers, and swamps. They love hiding in underwater plants to stay safe. They are cold-blooded animals that thrive in warm water. Most prefer temperatures between 28 °C and 32 °C (82 °F to 90 °F). Different species hunt in different spots. For example, the bluegill swims deeper, while the green sunfish stays close to the shore. Unusual members, such as the Sacramento perch, can even survive in very salty or alkaline lakes.

Reproduction and Nesting

Sunfish reproduction begins during the spring as waters warm. Males use their tail fins to scoop out circular nests in sand or gravel. They guard these nests fiercely. Male and female fish perform a courtship dance before eggs are laid. In sunfish families, father fish provide amazing care. Fathers guard the eggs, fan them with fresh water, and protect baby fish from hungry hunters.

Where Sunfish Live Around the World

Sunfish distribution

Sunfishes originally lived only in North America, ranging across the United States up into southern Canada. Cold weather limits how far north they can go in winter.

Because people love recreational fishing, humans brought sunfishes to Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia. In these new places, sunfishes can become dangerous invasive species. Fierce hunters like the largemouth bass eat up local creatures, harming native fish communities.