Centrarchids

Centrarchids, or centrarchids, are a family of freshwater fish in the order Perciformes, native to North America. The family includes the sunfishes and the black basses. Major genera are Lepomis (sunfishes such as bluegill, pumpkinseed, redear sunfish), Micropterus (largemouth and smallmouth bass), Pomoxis (white and black crappie), Ambloplites (rock bass), Centrarchus (the flier), and Enneacanthus (banded sunfishes). They are typically medium-sized, with a laterally compressed body, a single spiny dorsal fin, and a relatively small mouth.

Centrarchids inhabit warm, freshwater habitats—lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams—throughout much of North America, often favoring vegetated or structurally complex areas. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming invertebrates, crustaceans, seeds, and small fish, with diet shifting as they grow. Many centrarchids are territorial, especially during breeding seasons.

Reproduction centers on nest-building; males prepare nests on the substrate in shallow water, court females, lay eggs, and guard the fry until they can feed independently. Spawning typically occurs in spring and early summer in warmer waters, with parental care varying by species but commonly featuring paternal protection of the nest.

Centrarchids are valued as sport fish and are widely managed in fisheries programs. Introductions outside native ranges have altered predator–prey dynamics and competed with native fishes in some ecosystems, while in others they support recreational fishing and biodiversity. The group remains a key component of North American freshwater ecosystems and angling culture.