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Centrarchiformes (Basses) >
Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)
Etymology: Micropterus: Greek, mikros = small + Greek,pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335); coosae: Specific epithet coosae: of the Coosa (river system) (Ref. 10294).
More on authors: Hubbs & Bailey.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 35°N - 33°N
North America: Savannah, Chattahoochee and Mobile Bay basins in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama in the USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 47.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 25.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 3.7 kg (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 10 years (Ref. 72462)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11. A member of Micropterus coosae species group but differs from all other members of the group by having red on the distal one-half of second-dorsal, caudal, and anal fins, and entire length of pectoral-fin rays (vs. green, yellow-green, or orange on smaller portions of fins in other species) and midline row of blotches partial to lacking, typically with 6 or fewer anterior vertical blotches with the remainder too diffuse to recognize as blotches or spots (in 76% of individuals; remaining 24% with midline row of blotches extending total body length, having 10-13 blotches). It further differs from M. tallapoosae and M. chattahoochae by a combination of the following characters: smaller scales (2.6 vs. 2.9% SL); higher scale counts, including lateral-line scales (mode 70 vs. 65 or 66; range 68-73 in 83.8% vs. 61-67 in 77.2%), and scale rows around caudal peduncle (mode = 30 vs. 29; range 30-32 in 80.0% vs. 26-29 in 94.1%). It can be further separated from M. warriorensis by the presence of a tooth patch (vs. absent; from M. tallapoosae, M. warriorensis, M. cahabae, M. chattahoochae, and M. cf. coosae (Savannah River) by a narrower postfrontal width 11.0% SL (vs. 11.2% SL or more); and from M. cahabae by the presence of more pronounced white tips on the caudal fin (Ref. 93229).
Inhabits rocky runs and pools of creeks and small to medium rivers (Ref. 205); also found in upland streams (Ref. 10294). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Breed in shallow ponds, lakes or creeks (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p. (Ref. 5723)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01072 (0.00632 - 0.01817), b=3.05 (2.90 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100).
