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

Hybrid Sunfish (Lepomis sp. x Lepomis sp.)

Bluegill redbreast hybrid.

A 9-inch bluegill x redbreast hybrid sunfish.

Identification. Physical characteristics intermediate between parent species. Color patterns often look “confused,” with profuse spotting and/or wavy lines covering most of the body. Otherwise, pay attention to traits like relative mouth size, body width, shape of pectoral fin, presence or absence of light margins around fins and appearance of opercular flap.

Green sunfish pumpkinseed hybrid.

A 7-inch pumpkinseed x green hybrid sunfish.

Distribution. Hybrid sunfish may be found anywhere where two or more species of Lepomis coexist. They are typically uncommon to rare in abundance.

Habits. Similar to those of the parent species, except that hybrids typically grow faster and are more aggressive. They are therefore easier to catch by angling and tend to be more aggressive in aquariums.

Bluegill pumpkinseed hybrid.

The bluegill x pumpkinseed cross is the most common hybrid sunfish found in Connecticut.

Comments. Hybrids among all combinations of Lepomis species have been found in Connecticut. The most common hybrid is the bluegill x pumpkinseed cross, probably because these are the most common species. Hybrid sunfish are marginally fertile and will occasionally back-cross with one of the parent species or, more rarely, with a third species of sunfish, making positive identification very difficult (except through DNA analysis). Hybrids are more common in unfished or lightly fished waters, most likely because they are easier to catch than the parent species and are thus removed more quickly from heavily fished waters.

Bluegill green sunfish hybrid.

An 8-inch bluegill x green hybrid sunfish.

 

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.