Longear SunfishDescription The longear sunfish is a small, thin, deep-bodied fish that averages 4-4.5 inches in length. Often mistaken for a pumpkinseed, the longear can be distinguished from its cousin by looking at the pectoral fins and the gill covers. The longear has short, round pectoral fins that do not extend above the lateral line; a long flexible ear flap on the upper part of both gill covers; and gill covers with flexible, frilled margins. On the pumpkinseed, the pectoral fins are long, pointed, and extend above the lateral line, and the gill-cover margins are stiff and smooth. The longear sunfish is very colorful, with an olive to rusty-brown back, bright orange belly and blue-green bars on the sides of the head. Where They Live Longear Sunfish prefer densely weeded areas with a gravel or sand bottom. They avoid strong currents and silt. They also prefer clear, shallow, moderately warm, still water over rubble, gravel and sand with moderate aquatic vegetation. What They Eat Longear sunfish feed more extensively at the surface of the water than some other sunfishes. They eat mainly aquatic insects, as well as mites, microcrustaceans, fish eggs, mollusks, filamentous algae, and small fish but Snails, leeches, and aquatic insects make up the bulk of this sunfish's diet. When They Spawn Longear sunfish spawn in August. Males construct saucer-shaped nests in shallow water areas with sand or gravel bottoms. Although solitary nests are occasionally found, nests are generally built close together to form colonies. Male longear sunfish remain with the nest to care for and protect the eggs and young.
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