Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Where at Shedd?
At Home on the Great Lakes
| Diet | Snails, small crayfish, insects, worms, small minnows |
|---|---|
| Size | Up to 16 inches (41 cm); common length 7.5 inches (19 cm) |
| Type | Fishes |
| Range | North America |
| Habitat | Freshwaters of the Great Lakes region, from southern Canada to Florida and Mexico |
Did you know?
- You can spot a bluegill by looking for the black spot on its “earflap” as well as the light-blue color of its gill covers.
- The adult bluegill’s broad flat shape makes it hard for herons and river otters to swallow.
- The bluegill’s small mouth is a clue to the size of its prey—pretty dinky.
- In early summer, take a walk by the harbor south of the Aquarium...
- ...then look in the shallows for sunfish nests—circles about one foot across, cleared of algae and guarded by a pugnacious male.
- The bluegill sunfish is the official state fish of Illinois.