However, this fish has also been widely introduced to other locations in the United States outside of its native range. They range from North Carolina to Florida, west to southern Illinois and Missouri, and south to the Rio Grande drainage in Texas. Redear sunfish are native to the Southeast U.S. Redear sunfish on average reach about 0.45 kg (0.99 lb), also larger than the average bluegill. Max length is 43.2 cm (17.0 in), compared to a maximum of about 40 cm (16 in) for the bluegill. The adult fish are between 20 and 24 cm (7.9 and 9.4 in) in length. The male has a cherry-red edge on its operculum females have orange coloration in this area. It is dark-colored dorsally and yellow-green ventrally. The redear sunfish also has faint vertical bars traveling downwards from its dorsal. The redear sunfish generally resembles the bluegill except for coloration and somewhat larger size. Large shellcracker before preparation for consumption Description Illustration of the redear sunfish, Lepomis microlophus It is known for its diet of mollusks and snails. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America. The redear sunfish ( Lepomis microlophus), also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch) is a freshwater fish in the family Centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern United States.
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