Pumpkinseed
📖 Overview
Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) is a ray-finned fish of the family Centrarchidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters. This species can reach a maximum total length of 40 cm. It occurs at depths between 0 and 41 metres. With a trophic level of 3.3, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Valued as a sport fish.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Physical description for Pumpkinseed is currently being compiled.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Pumpkinseed is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Pumpkinseeds are carnivorous and feed on a variety of small prey both at the water surface and at the bottom. Among their favorites are insects, small molluscs and crustaceans (such as small crawfish), worms, minnow fry, small frogs or tadpoles, and even cannibalizing other smaller pumpkinseeds. They are effective at destroying mosquito larvae and even occasionally consume small pieces of aquatic vegetation and detritus. They also will readily consume human food scraps, most notably bread which is commonly used for bait. The pumpkinseed sunfish has a terminal mouth, allowing it to open at the anterior end of the snout. Pumpkinseed sunfish that live in waters with larger gastropods have larger mouths and associated jaw muscles to crack the shells.
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Habitat and distribution data for Pumpkinseed is currently being compiled.
🌿 Ecology
small fishes and other vertebrates (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 6-7ft baitcasting rod
- fluorocarbon leader
- baitcaster reel
- weedy shallows
- submerged timber
- rocky drop-offs
- docks and boat lifts
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Bag limits vary; check local slot-size regulations.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Common sunfish · Pond-Perch · Pumkinseed · Pumpkinseed · Pumpkinseed (Sun Perch, Sun Bass) · Pumpkinseed Sunfish · Punky · Round Sunfish · Seed · Sunfish · Yellow Sunfish · kiver · pumpkinseed-sunfish · Pond Perch · Sun Bass · Sunny |
| 🌍BUL | Слънчева риба · Царичка |
| 🏳️Catalan | Peix sol · Perca sol · Solet |
| 🌍CES | slunečnice pestrá |
| 🌍CYM | Swilod Tagell-Goch · swilyn tagell-goch |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Almindelig solaborre · Solaborre · Solbars |
| 🇩🇪German | Gemeiner Sonnenbarsch · Kürbiskernbarsch · Sonnenbarsch |
| 🌍ELL | Ηλιόψαρο |
| 🌍EST | harilik päikeseahven |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Aurinkoahven |
| 🇫🇷French | Achigan à petite bouche · Calicoba · Perche argentée · Perche dorée · Perche soleil · Perche-soleil · Perche-soleil, Boer, Calicoba, Perche arc-en-ciel, Perche argentée, Perche dorée, Poisson tricolore, Poisson-soleil, Crapet-soleil · Poisson tricolore · crapet-soleil |
| 🇭🇷Croatian | Sunčanica |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Naphal |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Persico sole |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Pampukinshidosanfisshu · パンプキンシードサンフィッシュ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Zonnebaars |
| 🌍NNO | raudgjella solabbor |
| 🌍NOB | rødgjellet solabbor |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Rødgjellet sollabbor |
| 🌍OJI | Agwadaashi |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Bass sloneczny · Bass słoneczny |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Perca-sol |
| 🌍RON | Biban soare · Biban-soare · Caras galben · Mâna-diavolului · Peste cu trei culori · Regina bălții · Regina-pestelui · Sines · Sorete · Sticlete |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Обыкновенный солнечник · Обыкновенный солнечный окунь · Солнечная рыба обыкновенная |
| 🌍SLK | slnečnica pestrá |
| 🌍SLV | Soncni ostriz |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Perca Sol Común |
| 🌍SQI | peshku diell · sharoku diellor · sharoku laraman |
| 🌍SRP | Suncanica · Sunčica · Сунчица · сунчаница |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Solabborre |
| 🌍TUR | gunes baligi |
| 🌍UKR | Сонячна риба звичайна · Сонячний окунь звичайний · Царьок |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eupomotis aureus | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Eupomotis gibbosus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Labrus anutus | Mitchill | 1817 | Synonym |
| Lepomus gibbosus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Morone maculata | Mitchill | 1814 | Synonym |
| Perca gibbosa | Linnaeus | 1758 | Homotypic |
| Pomotis catesbei | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Pomotis gibbosus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Pomotis holbroockii | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Pomotis ravenelii | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Pomotis vulgaris | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
| Sparus aureus | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Sparus mocasinus | Rafinesque | 1814 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1,140 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Pumpkinseed ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.