Montana Field Guide

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Montana Field Guides

Home - Other Field Guides
- Kingdom - Animals - Animalia
  - Phylum - Vertebrates - Craniata
    - Class - Fish - Actinopterygii
      - Order - Bass / Perch / Crappie - Perciformes
        
        Family - Sunfishes - Centrarchidae
        
        Species - Pumpkinseed - Lepomis gibbosus

Pumpkinseed - Lepomis gibbosus

Exotic Species (not native to Montana)

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: SNA

Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:

External Links

General Description

The pumpkinseed is Montana's most widespread small sunfish, but like the others it has been introduced. Pumpkinseeds were first found here in 1910 in sloughs near Kalispell and now are found nearly statewide except for southwestern Montana. Pumpkinseeds are beautiful little fish, and in their preferred habitat of clear ponds with abundant aquatic vegetation they can grow up to 1 pound and provide some fun fishing. However, most populations are stunted. The pumpkinseed is another example of a fish which has become widespread through illegal introduction.

Diagnostic Characteristics

Gill rakers short and stubby.

Species Range

Montana Range

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Summary of Observations Submitted for Montana

Number of Observations: 1331

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions

Relative Density

Recency

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)

Habitat

Ponds, small lakes, some large lakes, and slow streams. Prefers quite, clear water with an abundance of aquatic vegetation submerged brush.

Food Habits

Mostly snails and aquatic insects; but almost any organism of suitable size is eaten on occasion.

Ecology

May cross with bluegill and green sunfish but no hybrids reported in Montana.

Reproductive Characteristics

Sexually mature in 2-3 years. Spawns late spring-early summer.

References

Web Search Engines for Articles on "Pumpkinseed"
Additional Sources of Information Related to "Fish"

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Citation for data on this website:
Pumpkinseed — Lepomis gibbosus. Montana Field Guide. Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Retrieved on September 30, 2016, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=AFCQB11030