Redear Sunfish

Lepomis microlophus

About This Fish

The Redear Sunfish is found in Gulf to Atlantic coast drainages from Texas to South Carolina, including the Mobile Basin, as well as in the Mississippi and Ohio river drainages to Iowa and Ohio, including the Tennessee and Cumberland river drainages. They live over soft substrate of small to medium rivers, reservoirs, and swamps. As the common name suggests, Redear Sunfish have red spots on their “ears,” which are extensions of the opercular cover over their gills. Like other species of the genus Lepomis, males build nests by fanning the gravel or sand substrate with their tail.

Centrarchidae >

Lepomis

Alabama (AL), Georgia (GA), Mississippi (MS), Tennessee (TN), Kentucky (KY)

Conasauga – 03150101, Coosawattee – 03150102, Oostanaula – 03150103, Etowah – 03150104, Upper Coosa – 03150105, Middle Coosa – 03150106, Lower Coosa – 03150107, Upper Tallapoosa – 03150108, Middle Tallapoosa – 03150109, Lower Tallapoosa – 03150110, Upper Alabama – 03150201, Cahaba – 03150202, Middle Alabama – 03150203, Lower Alabama – 03150204, Upper Tombigbee – 03160101, Buttahatchee – 03160103, Tibbee – 03160104, Luxapallila – 03160105, Middle Tombigbee-Lubbub – 03160106, Sipsey – 03160107, Noxubee – 03160108, Mulberry – 03160109, Sipsey Fork – 03160110, Locust – 03160111, Upper Black Warrior – 03160112, Lower Black Warrior – 03160113, Middle Tombigbee-Chickasaw – 03160201, Sucarnoochee – 03160202, Lower Tombigbee – 03160203, Mobile Tensaw – 03160204, Mobile Bay – 03160205, Rockcastle – 05130102, Upper Cumberland-Lake Cumberland – 05130103, South Fork Cumberland – 05130104, Collins – 05130107, Caney – 05130108, Lower Cumberland-Old Hickory Lake – 05130201, Stones – 05130203, Harpeth – 05130204, Lower Cumberland – 05130205, Red – 05130206, South Fork Holston – 06010102, Upper French Board – 06010105, Lower French Board – 06010107, Upper Little Tennessee – 06010202, Tuckasegee – 06010203, Lower Little Tennessee – 06010204, Lower Clinch – 06010207, Hiwassee – 06020002, Ocoee – 06020003, Sequatchie – 06020004, Guntersville Lake – 06030001, Wheeler Lake – 06030002, Upper Elk – 06030003, Lower Elk – 06030004, Pickwick Lake – 06030005, Bear – 06030006, Lower Tennessee-Beech – 06040001, Upper Duck – 06040002, Lower Duck – 06040003, Buffalo – 06040004, Kentucky Lake – 06040005, Lower Tennessee – 06040006

Redear Sunfish

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