Key Characteristics:
- 26 or less total myomeres
- Preanal myomeres:10-13
- Postanal myomeres: 10-12
- Preanal and postanal myomeres approximately equal (difference of no more than 1 myomere)
- Straight or S-shaped gut
- Body not elongated, eel-shaped, round in transverse section, uniformly pigmented (1B)
- Chin barbels absent (3B)
- Snout short, its length usually less than 10% TL; median fins otherwise (5B)
- Median fins or finfolds showing distinct separation (7B)
- No adipose fin, or demarcation of one, in finfold (10B)
- Preanal myomeres greater than or equal to postanal myomeres (14A)
- Preanal myomeres approximately equal to postanal myomeres (difference five myomeres or less) (15A)
- Total myomeres less than 35 (20B)
- Total myomeres less than 26 (21A)
- Preanal myomeres usually equal to postanal myomeres (or difference of one); head smaller, pointed; mouth smaller, maxilla extending to middle of eye, caudal fin forked at 12 mm TL (22B)
- Percichthyidae – Moronidae – temperate basses
Adult History
- Physical Description
- No black stripes on body, terminal mouth, green/sliver sides while having a black/green back, two separated dorsal fins, 44-52 ctenoid lateral line scales, anal fin has one spine with 8-10 rays, silver/white compressed body, and has 3 anal spines
- Spawning Habitat
- Steady rivers, lakes, and streams
- Shallow water (between 1- 4 meters)
- Spawning Substrate
- Spawns over shoals or gravel
- Gravel bars in tributary streams
- Spawning Behavior
- Polyandrous Mating
- Migrate upstream to spawn
- Time of Year
- May – June in Lake Ontario
- Spawning typically takes place at water temperatures of 50 – 60°F
- Diet
- Fish eggs and larvae, insects, crustaceans (zooplankton), and small fish (minnows)