B&W Sunfish ID #4

[sandtiger]

You guys are getting good at this, here is another one.

 

[kafiltafiisch]

rock bass
shape of the gill plate
and mouth size

 

[le patron]

rock bass: Ambloplites rupestris

 

[le patron]

ahh you beat me to it

 

[ceeej31]

rock bass
shape of the gill plate
and mouth size

i agree, body shape also influenced my guess

 

[MN_Rebel]

Rock bass thats my 90% answer.

 

[sandtiger]

rock bass
shape of the gill plate
and mouth size

What makes you think it is a rock bass and not another Ambloplites species? Or even a similar Lepomis species?

 

[andyjs]

Too easy!...j/k
But, I was pretty much 100% on this one as soon as I looked at it. Neither of you guys really explained why you think it's a rock bass though. Even kafiltafiish's explaination really doesn't distinguish it from other Ambloplites species. Some give aways for me (besides the overall head and gill plate shape which immediately told me it was Ambloplites) are the hint of the vertical mark under the eye, the dark margin of the anal fin, and lack of heavy mottling present in other species like the shadow bass.

So, I'll agree-A. rupestris

 

[le patron]

i tend not to explain why i id them, because the title just says b&w id. that tells me: identify this fish. not identify this fish and tell why.

 

[Noto]

The purpose of these threads is to develop better ID skills, which includes using specific characters to ID fish rather than overall impressions. Check the first B&W ID thread.

By the way, guys- anal fin spine count is important here.