Photo Credit: NANFA
Micropterus punctulatus
| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Centrarchidae | Micropterus punctulatus | (Rafinesque) | 1819 | Spotted Bass |
Unique Characters: Rows of small black spots on lower sides. Black stripe or series of partly joined blotches on the sides. Dark caudal spot; pigment on caudal peduncle fused into a solid dark line. Modally 65 (range 60-71) lateral line scales. Tooth patch present on tongue. Well-connected spinous and soft portions of the dorsal fin.
Similar Species
Alabama Bass
Micropterus henshalli
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Alabama Bass Micropterus henshalli. Rows of black spots on lower sides. Black blotches along the upper back do not reach dorsal fin base. Modally 75 (range 68-84) lateral line scales. Blotches along midside do not coalesce into black stripe on caudal peduncle (i.e., pigment on caudal peduncle a series of blotches).
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. Tooth patch absent on tongue. Spinous and soft portions of the dorsal separated by a deep notch. Scales absent at the base of the soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins.
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