endemic to a single nation

Global Range: Native throughout central and lower Mississippi River basin from southern Ohio and West Virginia to southeastern Kansas and south to the Gulf; Gulf drainages from Chattahoochee River (where possibly introduced), Georgia, to Guadalupe River, Texas; introduced on Atlantic Slope in Virginia and North Carolina, in lower Pecos River, New Mexico, and Consummes and Feather rivers, California (Page and Burr 1991).

Length: 35 cm

Habitat Type: Freshwater

Comments: Small clear creeks with moderate to swift current and gravel to coarse sand substrate; moderate size, clear, low gradient sections of rivers with gravel substrate; and reservoirs (especially large deep oligotrophic ones). Secretive pool dweller in streams; in reservoirs adults mostly in deeper water, young near shore. After leaving nest, juveniles usually in schools in backwater or cove areas near cover (Sublette et al. 1990). Eggs are laid in a nest made by the male on bottoms ranging from mud to gravel in low-current areas (Moyle 1976), at depths averaging 1.5-6.7 m in reservoirs, 33-73 cm in streams.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Each adult frequently remains in one limited area for most of year, such as single stream pool, but spawning migrations are common in spring (Moyle 1976).

Comments: Juveniles feed initially on zooplankton; larger individuals eat crayfishes, aquatic insects, and small fishes.

Adults may stay in single stream pool for most of year (Moyle 1976). Juveniles swim in schools that disperse when fishes are about 30 mm long.

Comments: Feeding activity mainly crepuscular.

Spawns in late spring; eggs hatch in about 5 days at 14-16 C; sexually mature in 2nd or 3rd year; male guards eggs and hatchlings (Moyle 1976).

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Comments: Has hybridized with smallmouth bass in Missouri (Koppleman, Copeia 1994:204-210). Nominal subspecies wichitae is an invalid taxon (= M. punctulatus, or M. punctulatus X M. dolomieu) (Cofer, Copeia 1995:487-490). See Coughlin et al. (2003, Southwestern Naturalist 48:526-533) for information on the genetic makeup of populations in the Red and Arkansas river basins (including further indication that wichitae does not warrant recognition as a distinct taxon).