Lepomis cyanellus
Rafinesque 1819
Family Centrarchidae

Lateral view of a green sunfish
The green sunfish pictured above was collected in Marion, Alabama in 2015. It is now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 238409. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The green sunfish is a member of the sunfish family. This species has a large black spot at the posterior end of the second dorsal fin base and another on the anal fin base. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins have yellow or orange margins. Green sunfish have a  large mouth, with the upper jaw extending under the pupil of the eye. Green sunfish can be found in lakes, ponds, pools and backwaters of streams. They are most often found near vegetation or woody debris.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Non-indigenous freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central drainages
  • River Drainages — Perdido River, Escambia River, Blackwater River, Yellow River, Choctawhatchee River, Apalachicola River, Ochlockonee River and the Suwannee River
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