Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Banded Sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus) - Native

7 cm banded sunfish.

A 3-inch mature banded sunfish. Note the light spots and dark band through the eye.

Identification. Stout-bodied. Tail fin rounded. 8-9 faint vertical bands on sides, the first one passing through center of eye. Typically brownish on back, somewhat lighter on sides, and tan on belly. Profuse yellowish spots on body and dorsal, anal, and tail fins (sometimes faint). Spawning males become very dark with bright spots. Look for “stubby” appearance and rounded tail in juveniles.

6 cm banded sunfish.

A 2-inch banded sunfish.

Size. Commonly 1 to 3 inches. State survey max. size 3.9 inches. Max. reported size 4.2 inches.

Distribution. Atlantic coastal plain of the United States from New Hampshire to Florida. In Connecticut, banded sunfish are limited to the eastern coastal plain in scattered sites along the lower Connecticut River Valley and eastward to Rhode Island and also north in ponds and streams along the Quinebaug River Valley. They are typically uncommon in abundance.

Banded sunfish distribution map.

All maps created in 2009. See CT DEEP Fish Community Data for updated distributions.

Habits. Prefer shallow, weedy backwaters of acidic swamps, ponds and streams.

Comments. The banded sunfish is listed as a Connecticut State Threatened Species. Their small size makes them vulnerable to predation by bass and other large gamefish, so they thrive only in protected, backwater areas. Since the 1950s, they may have disappeared from a few larger lakes, but it is unclear whether their populations are declining elsewhere in Connecticut.

 

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store.