Bass & Panfish
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus
FreshwaterCentrarchidaeLeast Concern
About
The Pumpkinseed Sunfish is a small, colorful panfish with a laterally compressed body. They are opportunistic feeders and are often found in shallow, vegetated areas of lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams.
- Average size
- 4-8 inches, up to 1 lb
- Colors
- Olive-green to brown on the back and sides, with yellow to orange on the belly. They have a distinctive pumpkin-orange spot on the operculum (gill flap) and iridescent blue-green bars on their cheeks.
- Diet
- Insects, snails, crustaceans, small fish, and algae.
- Region
- Eastern North America, from southeastern Canada to the southeastern United States. Introduced populations exist in other regions.