Micropterus coosae
Redeye Bass
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GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Micropterus
Micropterus coosae (Redeye Bass)
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. A member of Micropterus coosae species group but differs from all other members of the group by having red on the distal one-half of second-dorsal, caudal, and anal fins, and entire length of pectoral-fin rays (vs. green, yellow-green, or orange on smaller portions of fins in other species) and midline row of blotches partial to lacking, typically with 6 or fewer anterior vertical blotches with the remainder too diffuse to recognize as blotches or spots (in 76% of individuals; remaining 24% with midline row of blotches extending total body length, having 10-13 blotches). It further differs from M. tallapoosae and M. chattahoochae by a combination of the following characters: smaller scales (2.6 vs. 2.9% SL); higher scale counts, including lateral-line scales (mode 70 vs. 65 or 66; range 68-73 in 83.8% vs. 61-67 in 77.2%), and scale rows around caudal peduncle (mode = 30 vs. 29; range 30-32 in 80.0% vs. 26-29 in 94.1%). It can be further separated from M. warriorensis by the presence of a tooth patch (vs. absent; from M. tallapoosae, M. warriorensis, M. cahabae, M. chattahoochae, and M. cf. coosae (Savannah River) by a narrower postfrontal width 11.0% SL (vs. 11.2% SL or more); and from M. cahabae by the presence of more pronounced white tips on the caudal fin (Ref. 93229).
Distribution
North America: Savannah, Chattahoochee and Mobile Bay basins in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama in the USA.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. demersal.
Biology
Inhabits rocky runs and pools of creeks and small to medium rivers (Ref. 205); also found in upland streams (Ref. 10294). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
Max length: 47.0 cm TL; common length: 25.5 cm TL; max weight: 3710 g; max age: 10 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders (nesters). Breed in shallow ponds, lakes or creeks (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2012-03-01. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
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.
Baker, W.H., R.E. Blanton and C.E. Johnston (2013) Diversity within the redeye bass, Micropterus coosae (Perciformes: Centrarchidae) species group, with descriptions of four new species. Zootaxa 3635(4):379-401.
Comments On Micropterus coosae