bluespotted sunfish
{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{speciesbox
| image = Enneacanthus gloriosus.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Enneacanthus gloriosus
| authority = (Holbrook, 1855)
| synonyms = *Bryttus gloriosus Holbrook, 1855
- Hemioplites simulans Cope, 1868
- Enneacanthus simulans (Cope, 1868)
| synonyms_ref = {{Fishbase|Enneacanthus|gloriosus|month=December|year=2019}}
}}
The bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus) is a species of fish in the family Centrarchidae, the sunfishes. It is native to the southeastern and eastern United States, its distribution extending as far north as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and far southern New York.{{cite web | url = https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102329/Enneacanthus_gloriosus | title = Enneacanthus gloriosus | accessdate = 24 May 2020 | publisher = NatureServe}} It is native throughout most of its range, but some populations represent introductions, such as those in Lake Ontario and the upper Susquehanna River system.{{cite journal | author = Stauffer, J. R. | year = 1981 | url = http://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/labs/stauffer/publications/1980s/Stauffer1981.pdf/view | title = Temperature behavior of the bluespotted sunfish, Enneacanthus gloriosus (Holbrook), with an evaluation of the interpretation of thermal behavior data | journal = Water Resources Bulletin | volume = 17 | issue = 3 | pages = 504–507| doi = 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1981.tb01248.x | url-access = subscription }}
In many areas, this fish is sympatric with a closely related member of its genus, the banded sunfish (E. obesus). The two species are hard to tell apart. They are known to hybridize.
Description
File:Enneacanthus gloriosus 292941539 (cropped).jpg
This fish reaches about {{convert|9.5|cm|in}} in maximum length.{{cite web | author1 = Fuller, P. | author2 = G. Jacobs | author3 = J. Larson | author4 = T.H. Makled | author5 = A. Fusaro | name-list-style = amp | title = Enneacanthus gloriosus (Holbrook, 1855) | publisher = U.S. Geological Survey | work = Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL | url = https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=377 | date = 8 January 2020 | accessdate = 24 May 2020}} It is one of the smallest fish in its family.{{cite journal | author1 = Snyder, D. J. | author2 = M. S. Peterson | name-list-style = amp | year =1999 | url = http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02705060.1999.9663670?journalCode=tjfe20#preview | title = Foraging and prey selection by bluespotted sunfish Enneacanthus gloriosus (Holbrook) in backwater, vegetated ponds in coastal Mississippi | journal = Journal of Freshwater Ecology | volume = 14 | issue =2 | pages = 187–196| doi = 10.1080/02705060.1999.9663670 | doi-access = free }} It has spines in its dorsal and anal fins. Its tail fin is rounded in outline. Its body is covered in white or blue dots. Some individuals have iridescent spots.{{cite journal | author1 = Peterson, M. S. | author2 = S. T. Ross | name-list-style = amp | year = 1987 | url = http://www.sefishescouncil.org/proceedings/sfcpro17.pdf | title = Morphometric and meristic characteristics of a peripheral population of Enneacanthus | journal = Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings | volume = 17 | pages = 1–14}} There may be a few pale bars on its sides, but these are rare, especially in adults.
A number of parasitic flatworms have been observed in this fish, such as Gyrodactylus gloriosi and several Urocleidus species.{{cite journal | author = Mayes, M. A. | year = 1973 | jstor=3224926 | title = Monogenetic trematodes from the bluespot sunfish Enneacanthus gloriosus (Holbrook) in North Carolina | journal = Transactions of the American Microscopical Society | volume = 92 | issue = 2 | pages = 280–284| doi = 10.2307/3224926 | pmid = 4699870 }}
Habitat
Several aspects of the life history of the fish vary geographically. Fish on the East Coast and in Florida are larger than individuals in Mississippi, for example. The fish becomes sexually mature at larger sizes in more northern latitudes. This may be because fish in milder climates can begin reproductive investment earlier, putting their energy into gonadal growth instead of body growth at younger ages. Fish in the east can reach a maximum age around 5 years, but fish in the south generally do not reach that age. The spawning season is also much longer in southern regions, probably because of warmer temperatures and longer photoperiod.{{cite journal | author1 =Snyder, D. J. | author2 = M. S. Peterson | name-list-style = amp | year =1999 | url = https://www.usm.edu/gcrl/cv/peterson.mark/docs/2007.05.14%20Snyder%20and%20Peterson%201999.pdf | title = Life history of a peripheral population of bluespotted sunfish Enneacanthus gloriosus (Holbrook), with comments on geographic variation | journal = American Midland Naturalist | volume = 141 | issue = 2 | pages = 345–357| doi = 10.1674/0003-0031(1999)141[0345:LHOAPP]2.0.CO;2 | s2cid = 86258004 }}
This freshwater fish occupies ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, and medium-sized rivers. It can tolerate slightly brackish water in areas near the coast. It thrives in small backwaters filled with vegetation and tree roots.
This species is sometimes kept as an aquarium pet.
Reproduction
The fish spawns several times in a season, sometimes daily for a long period of time. The male builds a nest in the substrate or in plant matter. Clutch sizes of 42 to 216 have been observed.
Diet
The diet of the fish is rich in plankton. It consumes cyclopoid copepods, water fleas, midge larvae, ostracods, amphipods, and snails.{{cite web | author1 = Kraft, C.E. | author2 = D.M. Carlson | author3 = M. Carlson | year = 2006 |url = http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/cek7/nyfish/Centrarchidae/bluespotted_sunfish.html | title = Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus) | work = Inland Fishes of New York (Online). Version 4.0. | publisher = Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation}} Its preference for tiny aquatic larvae makes it a suitable mosquito control agent.{{cite web | author = Kern, W. H. | url = http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in456 | title = Some small native freshwater fish recommended for mosquito and midge control in ornamental ponds. | publisher = University of Florida IFAS Extension Fact Sheet ENY-670 | year = 2004}}
References
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Category:Freshwater fish of the Southeastern United States