Acantharchus pomotis
(Baird 1855)
Family Centrarchidae
The mud sunfish is a member of the sunfish family. It has a rounded caudal fin, compressed body, large eye, short snout and large mouth. There are between three and four parallel brown to black stripes across the side of the head, and the upper jaw extends under the eye. Mud sunfish can be found in swamps, sloughs, lakes and pools, and in the backwaters of creeks and small to medium rivers. Mud sunfish are usually found near vegetation.
Status & distribution
- Status — Native freshwater
- Florida Distribution — Western and North Central and Peninsula drainages
- River Drainages — Ochlockonee River, minor Gulf tributaries, Suwannee River, St. John’s River and the St. Mary’s River