fishing planet north carolina unique redear sunfish

The average body size is 0.45 kg (0.99 lb). Most of them will have green to yellow sides. Their coloration can range from a dark olive green above and an almost entirely white bottom belly. Only males have this flap coloration, while females have a more orange coloration to them. The redear sunfish is best known for the red edge of its operculum or “ear” flap. The redear sunfish’s coloration varies greatly, depending on factors such as age, sex, and water quality. The redear is included in the Centrarchidae family, commonly known by the name “ sunfish. The scientific name, Lepomis microlophus, comes from Lepomis, meaning “scaled gill cover” and microlophus, meaning “small nape” in Greek.

The body is slightly less compressed than that of the bluegill, which differs from the redear most noticeably in the fact that its gill cover flap is entirely black without any spot or trim.Redear Sunfish, Lepomis Microlophus, also widely known as the shellcracker, cherry gill, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish, chinquapin, sun perch, and Georgia bream. It also lacks the spots on the dorsal fin and the bluish emerald lines on the sides of the head that are characteristic of the pumpkinseed. It can be distinguished from the similar looking pumpkinseed by the fact that its gill cover flap is semi-flexible and can be bent at least to right angles, whereas the flap on the pumpkinseed is rigid.

The operculum is also much shorter than in the other two species and is black, with a red spot or margin at the tip. Its long, pointed, slightly falcate pectoral fins distinguish it from both the longear sunfish and the redbreast sunfish, which have short, round pectoral fins. As is typical of sunfishes, the redear has a small mouth, connected dorsal fins and a roundish, laterally compressed body. This rather large sunfish is known to reach over 4.5 lb.

Fishing planet north carolina unique redear sunfish