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💧 Freshwater 🌡️ Subtropical

Micropterus Cahabae

Micropterus cahabae Baker, Johnston & Blanton, 2013
Max Length
36 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
48.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Micropterus Cahabae (Micropterus cahabae), first described by Baker, Johnston & Blanton, 2013 is a medium-sized fish in the family Centrarchidae (order Centrarchiformes). Adults typically reach 36.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. It occurs in Subtropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator.

Scientific Name
Micropterus cahabae
Authority
Baker, Johnston & Blanton, 2013
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Max Length
36 cm
Trophic Level
3.6
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
48.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 3. Distinguished from all congeners, except Micropterus tallapoosae, by the absence of red or orange pigmentation on fin rays (fin rays green or yellow-green); from M. tallapoosae and M. chattahoochae by having 68-72 lateral-line scales (vs. 61-67 ) and 30-32 scales around caudle peduncle ( vs. 26-29); from M. chattahoochae by its narrower head (postfrontal width 11.2% SL vs. 11.8%); and from M. coosae by its head width 11.2% (vs. 11.0%); from M. chattahoochae and M. cf. coosae (Savannah River) by a smaller tongue tooth patch (less than 1.0 mm in 51.7%, absent in 34.5% of specimens vs. in 66.7% or more and absent in 9.0% or less) and from M. warriorensis by more often having a tooth patch (absent in 34.5% vs. 82.9%). It further differs from all species by a unique pigmentation pattern along the midline of the body, having 6-12 blotches with the anterior 6-9 shorter, wider vertical bars followed posteriorly by rounded spots .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Micropterus Cahabae is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 🪺 Nest Builder 🛡️ Egg Guarder
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Nest
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical North America: endemic to the Cahaba River system in the Piedmont region of central Alabama, USA.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
3.6±0.5

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.0123 × L3.07 (TL)
Max TL
36cm
Dorsal Spines
10
Dorsal Rays
12
Anal Spines
3

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
48.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Baker, Johnston & Blanton, 2013

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