Micropterus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Micropterus

Micropterus dolomieu
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Centrarchidae
Subfamily:	Lepominae
Genus:	*Micropterus* Lacepede, 1802
Type species
Micropterus dolomieu Lacepède, 1802
Synonyms
Aplesion Rafinesque, 1820 Aplites Rafinesque, 1820 Calliurus Rafinesque, 1819 Dioplites Rafinesque, 1820 Gristes Cuvier, 1829 Huro Cuvier, 1828 Nemocampsis Rafinesque,.] 1820

Micropterus is a group of freshwater fish found in North America. These fish are commonly known as black bass. They belong to the sunfish family called Centrarchidae. Sometimes, people mistakenly call them "black trout." However, trout are actually a different type of fish.

Black bass live in many places east of the Rocky Mountains. You can find them from the Hudson Bay area in Canada all the way to northeastern Mexico. Some types, like the largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, have been moved to many other parts of the world. Now, they live almost everywhere.

These fish are very popular for fishing. People love to catch them because they are strong fighters. Fishing for black bass is a huge outdoor sport. People also eat their meat, which is firm and tasty. However, they are not usually caught for selling in stores.

What are Black Bass?
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Black Bass Around the World
Types of Black Bass
Images for kids
See also

What are Black Bass?

All Micropterus fish have a dull-green color. They also have dark patterns on their sides. Most of them grow to be about 40 to 60 centimeters long. That's about 16 to 24 inches. But some largemouth bass can grow much bigger. Some have been found to be almost a full meter long! That's over 3 feet.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

During the spawning season, the male black bass builds a special nest. This nest is often called a "bed." He then encourages a female to lay her eggs in this nest. After she lays the eggs, the male fertilizes them.

The male bass is a very protective parent. He stays and guards the eggs until they hatch. He also protects the baby fish, called fry, until they are big enough to leave the nest.

Black Bass Around the World

Some types of black bass have been brought to other countries. For example, they were introduced into freshwater areas in Japan. In Japan, these fish have become a problem. They are called "nuisance fish" because they can harm the local fish and plants. People have tried many ways to remove them from these ecosystems.

Types of Black Bass

There are currently 13 types of black bass that scientists officially recognize. Here are some of them:

Micropterus cahabae (Cahaba bass)
Micropterus cataractae (shoal bass)
Micropterus chattahoochae (Chattahoochee bass)
Micropterus coosae (redeye bass)
Micropterus dolomieu (smallmouth bass)
Micropterus floridanus (Florida bass)
Micropterus henshalli (Alabama bass)
Micropterus notius (Suwannee bass)
Micropterus punctulatus (spotted bass)
Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass)
Micropterus tallapoosae (Tallapoosa bass)
Micropterus treculii (Guadalupe bass)
Micropterus warriorensis (warrior bass)

Scientists are always learning more about these fish. For example, a 14th type, the Choctaw bass (Micropterus haiaka), has been suggested. Also, some recent studies have looked closely at the genetics of these fish. They found that the names for the largemouth bass and Florida bass might need to be updated. This shows how science keeps changing and growing!