Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: SUNFISH, BANTAM

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: CENTRARCHIDAE

Genus: LEPOMIS

Species: SYMMETRICUS

Taxonomic Authority: FORBES

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 003 , 006 , 010

Habitat Summary

"Occurs in swamps, sloughs, ditches and oxbows with clear, quiet water, dense submerged vegetation and standing dead timber."

Primary Habitat: "Wetland matrix"

References: 001

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"In Missouri this species has only been collected from Duck Creek wildlife area, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and Otter Slough wildlife area *01,08*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BOLLINGER BUTLER ADAIR
STODDARD CAPE GIRARDEAU ANDREW
WAYNE DUNKLIN ATCHISON
MISSISSIPPI AUDRAIN
NEW MADRID BARRY
PEMISCOT BARTON
SCOTT BATES
BENTON
BOONE
BUCHANAN
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 007 , 008

Distribution by Watersheds

St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Mississippi River Alluvial Plains

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Palustrine

Aquatic Associations:

"Palustrine", "Aquatic bed, unknown submergent"
"Palustrine", "Forested, broad-leaved deciduous"
"Palustrine", "Forested, dead"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001

Habitat Types:

Swamp

References for Habitat Types: 004

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Wetland
Swamps
Swamp
Pond Swamp

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 001 , 008

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Larva stage
Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies); Larva stage
Crustaceans; Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits 011

Adult Food Habits

Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies); Larva stage
Terrestrial Insects; Not Specified
Snails; Not Specified
Crustaceans; Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 011

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

Water level: permanently flooded

References for egg niches requirements: 001

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp

References for feeding larvae niche requirements: 001

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements: 001

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: oxbow

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 008

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: oxbow

References for resting adult niche requirements:

Niche Requirement Summary

Current velocity: no noticable current
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: swamp
Turbidity: clear water
Water level: permanently flooded

Life History Information

Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging sites: water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Display site: water
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)

References for life history: 001 , 011

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - develop/maintain wetlands
Water - control sedimentation
Water - control pollution (thermal, physical, chemical)
Water - develop/maintain streamside vegetation
Water - stabilize streambanks
Agricultural - control erosion

Beneficial Management References: 007

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - application of herbicides
Water - application of pesticides
Water - application of insecticides
Water - dredging and filling
Water - drainage of wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes

Adverse Management References: 007

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
005 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
006 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
007 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65102 (573-882-9880).
008 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
009 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
010 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
011 Burr, B.M. 1977. The Bantam Sunfish, Lepomis Symmetricus: Systematics And Distribution, And Life History In Wolf Lake, Illinois. IL Nat. Hist. Surv. Bull. 31(10):437-465.