Stunning Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus): North America’s Iridescent, Irresistible, Irrepressible Freshwater Fish

The ambiguous word redbreast sounds like more. An association automatically will form in the minds of bird-, drink- and fish-lovers. For example, ornithologists (Greek: ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος, ornis, ornithos, “bird” + -λογία, -logia, “study of”) will link the word redbreast with the American (Turdus migratorius) and European (Erithacus rubecula) robins redbreast. For instance, whiskey-lovers will refer to the premier pure pot still whiskey of County Cork (Contae Chorcaí) in Ireland (Poblacht na hÉireann). In the way of another example, ichthyologists (Greek: ἰχθύς, ikhthus, “fish” + -λογία, -logia, “study of”) will relate to the iridescent anatomy of the appropriately named redbreast sunfish.

What is the common name of the redbreast sunfish? Redbreast sunfish is the common name by which people in their daily lives are apt to designate the redbreast sunfish. But the name may find substitutions and supplements depending upon the locale. For example, a list of alternative common names in English may include the following:

· Redbelly;

· Redbreast, redbreast bream, red-breasted sunfish;

· River bream;

· River sunfish;

· Robin;

· Sun perch;

· Yellow-bellied perch, yellowbelly perch;

· Yellow-bellied sunfish, yellowbelly sunfish.

What is the scientific name of the redbreast sunfish? A scientific name brings together at least two words of Greek, Latin or mixed Greek and Latin origins. It therefore can be called a Latin or binomial (Latin: binōminis, “having two parts”) name too. It is intended to identify the relationship which the animal or plant in question holds within the schema of life on earth. It owes its modern manifestations to the scientific genius of Swedish physician Carl Linnaeus (Carl Nilsson Linnæus, May 23, 1707-January 10, 1778).

In fact, Sir Linnaeus is credited with pioneering and perfecting the current system of taxonomy (Greek: τάξις, taxis, “arrangement” + νομία, nomia, “method”) whereby animals and plants receive scientific classifications. He made his first contributions to what was to become his system of biological classification in 1730. He was inspired to do so by questions which he had regarding the accuracy and the efficacy of the reigning system elaborated by French-born botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (June 5, 1656-December 28, 1708). He was to spend the rest of his life so expanding and refining his system that even today he still is recognized as the father of modern ecology (Greek: οἶκος, oikos, “house” + -λογία, -logia, “study of”) as well as of modern taxonomy.

Sir Linnaeus gave the first official description of the redbreast sunfish in 1758. He also gave the North American native freshwater fish a scientific name based upon what was to become known worldwide as the Linnaean system of scientific categorization. Both the description and the designation were predicated upon a specimen from the friendly waters of Pennsylvania's City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia (Greek: φίλος, philos, "loving" + ἀδελφός, adelphos, "brother").

What does the redbreast sunfish call home? The redbreast sunfish is native to the freshwater river systems of eastern Canada as well as to those in the United States of America which drain into the Atlantic Ocean. It also is native to the rivers which drain into the Gulf of Mexico as far south and west as the Apalachicola drainage system. It widely is introduced elsewhere in systems west of the Atlantic drainage, such as Louisiana and Texas.

Within its native and introduced ranges, the redbreast sunfish accepts watery habitats which can be described as follows:

· Backwaters and slow runs of clear or turbid warm creeks, rivers and streams of low or moderate gradient;

· Brackish waters, with a known maximum salinity of 7.0%;

· Cool, sheltered rivers and streams;

· Currents;

· Margins of lakes;

· Ponds and reservoirs;

· Rocky and vegetated pools;

· Shoreline trees with overhanging branches;

· Water bottoms of gravel or sand;

· Water pH levels from the neutral 7.0 to the slightly alkaline 7.5;

· Water temperatures up to 102.2 °F (39 °C).

The redbreast sunfish is intolerant of the following watery situations:

· Absence of protective vegetative cover from heat and light;

· Lack of current;

· Lower pH levels, such as those which prevail in the acidic waters of Virginia’s Dismal Swamp.

What is the appearance of the redbreast sunfish? The redbreast sunfish can be recognized by the following physical characteristics:

Head:

Dark, long earflap;

Eyes large;

Mouth medium-sized;

Olive or olive brown;

Yellow to orange washed opercle, or bony plate supportive of the gill cover;

Body:

Abdomen and breast bright orange yellow in adult females and deep red orange in males;

Lateral line running from the gill covers to the base of the tail and serving to detect movement, pressure changes, and vibrations;

Mature body length of 4.33 centimeters (11 centimeters), with a known maximum of 12 inches (30.5 centimeters);

Mature body weight of 2 pounds (0.91 kilograms);

Olive or olive brown back, sometimes with pale blue iridescently marked scales;

Fins, rays, spines:

Anal fin olive with olive or pale blue margins, 8 to 10 rays and 3 spines;

Caudal (Latin: caudālis, “of or relating to the tail of an animal”) fin olive to olive brown, with bright yellow to brick red lobes and yellow to orange wash;

Dorsal (Latin: dorsālis, “of or relating to the back”) fin medium olive with 11 to 12 rays and 9 to 11 spines;

Pectoral (Latin: pectorālis, “of or relating to the breast”) fin pale olive or amber with 13 to 15 rays.

What does the redbreast sunfish eat? The redbreast sunfish is an opportunistic feeder. It may be an enthusiastic control of aquatic insect populations as well as of those terrestrials which fall from overhanging vegetation or off stream banks. It will consider any of the following theirs to prey upon:

· Arthropods;

· Crustaceans such as crayfish;

· Immature aquatic insects, such as mayflies;

· Insect larvae, such as those of dragonflies;

· Invertebrates such as snails;

· Mollusks;

· Other fishes.

What eats the redbreast sunfish? Predatory fishes in the Micropterus genus of black basses with small fins attempt to make the smaller and younger redbreast sunfish into a quick, tasty meal.

Other predatory fish include the flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) and the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Both predators particularly like the adult redbreast sunfish.

What is the spawning time of the redbreast sunfish? The redbreast sunfish congregates temporarily into schools before breeding. It disperses once water temperatures reach 50 °F (10 °C). It spawns when temperatures reach 60.8 to 82.4 °F (16 to 28 °C). The spawning period will peak between temperatures of 68 and 82.4 °F (20 and 28 °C). It will run from May to August in Virginia.

The male redbreast sunfish builds a redd, or nest, which looks like a shallow depression in the water body’s siltless or slightly silted sand and gravel substrate. The nest can be close to cover such as submerged objects and plants. It can be located in calm pool margins less than 3.28 feet (1 meter) deep. Or it may be located on the protected side of large rocks near fast-flowing, oxygenated currents. Either way, it measures about 12 inches (centimeters) in diameter.

The female typically deposits anywhere from just under 1,000 to over 8,000 sticky eggs. The lower limit prevails at age 2 and the higher limit at age 6. The female then moves on to deeper waters.

The male redbreast sunfish guards the eggs, each of which measures about 0.04 inch (1.1 millimeter) in diameter. He keeps up the guard duty in terms of the newly hatched fry. In fact, he will not leave until the young redbreast sunfish are capable of independent movement and feeding.

The redbreast sunfish is sexually mature 2 years after hatching. It may live for another 2 to 4 years. It may survive up to a known maximum of 8 years.

What is the use of the redbreast sunfish? Educational entertainment, environmental education, fishing and food are the most visible uses of the redbreast sunfish.

In terms of educational entertainment and environmental education, the redbreast sunfish often is among the fishes chosen for private and public aquaria. Its splendid iridescence of blue, orange, red and yellow make it a delight to watch and a challenge to paint or photograph.

In terms of fishing, the redbreast sunfish figures high on the dream catch lists of anglers and fishers. In fact, it is one of the most beloved and commonly caught sunfishes in Virginia’s upland waters. Anglers and fishers indeed know that they will have an exciting adventure to add to local lore. In pursuit of their appreciated and prized catch, they may keep in mind the following guidelines:

Times:

Night;

Year-round, but most particularly during spawning (especially May) and in fall (especially in October);

Places:

Deeper waters between 9 and 30 feet (2.74 to 9.14 meters) deep, fall and winter;

Shallow waters less than 20 feet (6.096 meters) deep, spring to summer;

Shorelines with protective cover, such as overhanging branches and submerged objects and plants;

Methods:

Angling from shorelines, drift fishing or still lines;

Lightweight gear;

Live bait, such as crickets, grasshoppers, insects such as flies, mealworms, night crawlers, small minnows, and waxworms;

Small lures and spinners.

In terms of food, the redbreast sunfish is appreciated for its flaky, rare, sweet white flesh. A popular way of serving the redbreast requires dipping in pancake batter and frying. But redbreast sunfish flesh will cooperate with any preferred preparation of fish dishes to serve to family and friends.

What does the future hold for the redbreast sunfish? The redbreast sunfish generally does not have to worry about its continued existence. It is adaptable enough that thus far it can survive a sufficiently variable environmental range. For example, it knows how to frustrate the predatory maneuvers of its fishy followers and human hunters. It likewise manages to come to terms with the silted, stained, turbid, warmer waters which often accompany the deforestation inherent in area construction, logging or mining.

But there are limits to redbreast sunfish adaptability. For example, the ceiling is attained when the water is acidified by acid rain, nutrient runoff, and toxic pollutants down to pH levels below 4.8. It is reached when the eroded shoreline is denuded of ground cover and overhanging vegetation.

May the ceilings never be attained or surpassed, not in all the fragile life spans of all the gloriously iridescent redbreast sunfish which are now and are yet to be throughout all earthly times and places.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the Internet; as well as to Stessily for original artwork included below.

My special thanks to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Department of Agriculture for the professionalism which is evinced in the high-caliber data and images which they make available in print and on the internet.

My special thanks also to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for the high caliber of their online resources.

Gooch, Bob. Virginia Fishing Guide. Revised Edition. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1992.

Hart, David. Flyfisher’s Guide to Virginia Including West Virginia’s Best Fly Fishing Waters. Belgrade, MT: Wilderness Adventures Press, Inc., 2006.

Hassan-Williams, Carla, and Timothy H. Bonner. "Lepomis auritus redbreast sunfish." Texas State University-San Marcos Department of Biology: Freshwater Fishes. http://www.bio.txstate.edu/~tbonner/txfishes/lepomis%20auritus.htm (Last accessed November 21, 2011)

Jenkins, Robert E. and Noel M. Burkhead. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. Bethesda, MD: American Fisheries Society, 1994.

Lorantas, R., D. Kristine and C. Hobbs. “Redbreast Sunfish Management and Fishing in Pennsylvania.” Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC): PA Fish Species. http://www.fish.state.pa.us/pafish/sunfish_redbreast/00redbreast_overview.htm (Last accessed November 21, 2011)

“Redbreast Sunfish, Lepomis auritus.” EFISH: The Virtual Aquarium of The Department of Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences of Virginia Tech. http://cnre.vt.edu/efish/families/redbreastsun.html (Last accessed November 21, 2011)

"Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus." Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) Gallery of Pennsylvania Fishes Chapter 22: Sunfishes, Family Centrarchidae. http://www.fish.state.pa.us/pafish/fishhtms/chap22.htm (Last accessed November 21, 2011)

Rohde, Fred C., Rudolf G. Arndt, David G. Lindquist, and James F. Parnell. Freshwater Fishes of the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Chapel Hill and London: The University of North Carolina Press, 1994.

Seventh Report of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission of the State of New York. Albany, NY : J. B. Lyon Company, State Printers, 1902.

Copyright Monday, November 21, 2011 by Derdriu