New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🌡️ Temperate

Banded pygmy sunfish

Elassoma zonatum Jordan, 1877
Max Length
4.7 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
3 yrs
Trophic Level
3.7
Depth
-
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
3.5 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Adults occur in swamps, heavily vegetated sloughs and small sluggish streams, usually over mud . They feed on microcrustacea together with midge larvae, larger crustacea (isopods and amphipods), mayfly nymphs, and small snails and clams . Oviparous, eggs are deposited in aquatic vegetation, preferably on strands of Ceratophyllum sp. when available .

Scientific Name
Elassoma zonatum
Authority
Jordan, 1877
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Temperate
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
4.7 cm
Lifespan
3 years
Trophic Level
3.7
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Water Temp
10–25 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Banded pygmy sunfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Banded pygmy sunfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Banded pygmy sunfish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: 10 - 20. Temperate; 10°C - 25°C ; 38°N - 29°N North America: Lower Roanoke River drainage, North Carolina; south to middle parts of St.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.7±0.4
Food Items

microcrustacea together with midge larvae, larger crustacea (isopods and amphipods), mayfly nymphs,

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01122 × L3.04 (TL)
Max TL
4.7cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
10–25°C
pH Range
6.5–7.5
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2011

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.7
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Jordan, 1877

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English banded pygmy sunfish

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 45 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Banded pygmy sunfish ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.