![]() ![]() ![]() The bluegill is native to the east half of the United States and a small part of northeastern Mexico. The bluegill also hybridizes with other members of the sunfish family. Two are recognized: the northern bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus macrochirus), found in northwest Florida and the Florida bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus mystacalis), found throughout Florida except the panhandle. Two distinctive characteristics are the prominent black spot on the rear edge of the gill cover and a black spot at the base of the posterior portion of the dorsal fin. Typically, the females have yellow on the throat while males have bright orange. Most of the year, the breast is silver to slightly blue, with some yellow or orange during the spawning season.įemales are generally lighter colored than males. Males tend to have a copper-colored bar over the top of the head behind the eyes. In general, they are somewhat lavender and bronze with about six dark bars on their sides. Body coloration is highly variable with size, sex, spawning, watercolor, bottom type, and amount of coverage. Bluegills have small mouths and oval-shaped, flattened bodies.
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