Bluegill
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Name and Code
Family
Centrarchidae - sunfishes and basses
Species
Lepomis macrochirus
Taxonomic Authority
Rafinesque 1819
Common Name(s)
Bluegill
French Name
crapet arlequin
Species Code
314
Family TSN
168093
Parent TSN
168130
Species TSN
168141
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (2015-08-18)
National Rank (NRank)
N5 (2017-12-22)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
S5 (1988-11-22)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
native
General Abundance
common
Tolerance
intermediate
Economic Importance
pan fish
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-5.4274
Slope (b)
3.3118
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthopelagic
Trophic Class
invertivore
Thermal Regime
warmwater
Habitat Preference
vegetated small lakes, ponds, shallow weedy bays of larger lakes and pools of creeks and small to large rivers; preferred water temperature range 24-30°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Guarders: Nest spawners: Polyphils
Spawning Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Spawning Season
summer
Spawning Month(s)
June-August
Spawning Temperature (°C)
19-26
Fecundity
2,450-45,575
Nursery Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
13.7-25.3 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.05-0.34
Age at Maturity (yrs)
2-3 (m); 3-4 (f)
Maximum Length (cm)
41.0 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
2.155
Lifespan (yrs)
8-11
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
30.2 TL
Record Weight (kg)
0.83
Ontario Range Map
Bluegill range
Ontario Distribution
central, southern and northwestern Ontario
Photographs
Bluegill photograph
Bluegill photograph
Notes
hybrids with Pumpkinseed are common; usually spawn 2-3 weeks after Pumpkinseed; tolerant of low dissolved oxygen and high water temperature; moderately tolerant of turbidity; intolerant of siltation; often occur in schools
Information Sources
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