Scientific Name
Micropterus salmoides

Common Name
Largemouth black bass

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12; Vertebrae: 30 - 32. Mouth large; maxillary extending beyond the eye. Pelvic fins not joined by a membrane. Green to olive dorsally, milk-white to yellow ventrally, with a black band running from the operculum to the base of the caudal fin. Caudal fin rounded. Caudal fin with 17 rays (Ref. 2196).

Classification

Classified By

Lacep?de, 1802

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Sunfishes (Centrarchidae)

Distribution

Region

North America

Distribution

North America: St. Lawrence - Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins; Atlantic drainages from North Carolina to Florida and to northern Mexico. The species has been introduced widely as a game fish and is now cosmopolitan. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Range

47°N - 26°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

10 °C

Water Temperature To

32 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

7 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 7.0 - 7.5; dH range: 10 - ? benthopelagic; depth range ? - 7 m (Ref. 1998)

Trophic Level

3.84 s.e. 0.62 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

97.0 cm

Common Length

40.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (45 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.06-0.14; tm=3-5; tmax=11; Fec=2,000)

Threat To Humans

Potential pest

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated