Everglades pygmy sunfish
📖 Overview
Occurs in swamps, heavily vegetated sloughs and small sluggish streams, usually over mud. Feeds on worms and crustaceans . Oviparous, eggs are deposited in aquatic vegetation, preferably on strands of Ceratophyllum sp. when available .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
: elongated; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
The Everglades pygmy sunfish tends to live alone. As an invertivore, the fish preys on worms and other crustaceans in its habitat. Prey include cladocerans, dipteran larvae, annelids, chironomids, copepods, ostracods, and newly hatched snails. Where food is centrally located, males will establish territories with closer proximity to the center based on dominance. In environments of evenly distributed food, males will range freely and will not establish territories. Like many other fish species, Elassoma evergladei is oviparous. A female may lay 40 to 60 eggs, and a male will guard the eggs. Eggs are laid in aquatic plants, especially in those from the genus Ceratophyllum.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Everglades pygmy sunfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Male guards the eggs . Produces 40-60 eggs.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 7.0 - 7.5; dH range: 8 - 12. Temperate; 10°C - 30°C ; 35°N - 27°N North America: USA from Cape Fear River drainage in North Carolina to Mobile Bay in Alabama; south in Florida to northern edge of Everglades.
🌿 Ecology
worms and crustaceans (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Everglades pygmy sunfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Everglades pygmy sunfish is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Everglades pygmy sunfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Everglades pygmy sunfish |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 23 records indexed .
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