Page 102 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 102
gemouth Bass
(Micropterus salmoides)
Description
This fish gets its common
name from its very large
mouth, which extends
past its eyes. Its long,
stocky body is greenish
on the back, white to
greenish-yellow on the
sides and white on the belly. A dark stripe runs down its sides. Largemouth
Bass breed in the spring. The male uses his fins to clear a circular nest. The
female lays 2,000 to 40,000 eggs in the nest and leaves. The territorial male
guards the eggs. The young stay with their father for protection for up to a
month. Largemouth Bass can live about 15 years in the wild.
As a top predator, Largemouth Bass Distribution and Habitat
can maintain ecosystem health by
controlling populations of animals It lives in all five physiographic
below them in the food chain. provinces, but it is not native to
Fairfax County. Its preferred habitat
is clear bodies of fresh water with
lots of vegetation to provide places
to hide.
Role in Food Web
The Largemouth Bass eats mainly fish including other Largemouth Bass,
Yellow Perch, Creek Chubs, Black Crappies, Tessellated Darters and Golden
Shiners. It prefers sunfish. It also eats some invertebrates, amphibians and
turtles. The young are eaten by other fish (like Yellow Perch and Northern
Pikes) and birds (like herons and raptors). Adults have few predators
besides humans.
r 98 r
(Micropterus salmoides)
Description
This fish gets its common
name from its very large
mouth, which extends
past its eyes. Its long,
stocky body is greenish
on the back, white to
greenish-yellow on the
sides and white on the belly. A dark stripe runs down its sides. Largemouth
Bass breed in the spring. The male uses his fins to clear a circular nest. The
female lays 2,000 to 40,000 eggs in the nest and leaves. The territorial male
guards the eggs. The young stay with their father for protection for up to a
month. Largemouth Bass can live about 15 years in the wild.
As a top predator, Largemouth Bass Distribution and Habitat
can maintain ecosystem health by
controlling populations of animals It lives in all five physiographic
below them in the food chain. provinces, but it is not native to
Fairfax County. Its preferred habitat
is clear bodies of fresh water with
lots of vegetation to provide places
to hide.
Role in Food Web
The Largemouth Bass eats mainly fish including other Largemouth Bass,
Yellow Perch, Creek Chubs, Black Crappies, Tessellated Darters and Golden
Shiners. It prefers sunfish. It also eats some invertebrates, amphibians and
turtles. The young are eaten by other fish (like Yellow Perch and Northern
Pikes) and birds (like herons and raptors). Adults have few predators
besides humans.
r 98 r
