# Green Sunfish (*lepomis cyanellus*) The Green Sunfish is a colorful fish that loves to swim in ponds and lakes! With its bright green and blue colors, it looks like a little treasure under the water. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 29 - **Habitat:** Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers - **Also known as:** Green Fish, Lepomis Sunfish ![Green Sunfish](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lepomis_cyanellus_Raver.jpg&width=800) Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lepomis_cyanellus_Raver.jpg) ## Appearance The Green Sunfish has an olive-green body with a blue or purplish sheen, often showing faint vertical bars. It features a large mouth, distinctive red-orange fin edges, and a prominent black spot with a light rim on its gill cover. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Centrarchidae - **Genus:** Lepomis ## Interesting facts - A male Green Sunfish guards its nest and even fans the eggs with his fins. - Despite their name, their scales often shimmer more blue than green! - These fish are expert nest builders, creating circular depressions in soft river bottoms. - They can make grunting sounds using special teeth in their throat! ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Master:** Green Sunfish can slightly change skin color to blend with murky or clear water because of specialized pigment cells. - **Super Senser:** Green Sunfish has a lateral line system that helps them detect vibrations from prey or predators, even in darkness. - **Mouth of Marvel:** Green Sunfish can open their large mouth very wide to swallow surprisingly big prey whole, making them effective predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Swim Speed:** 5 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 5 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding Eats lots of different small critters, from insects to tiny fish, staying healthy! - **Age differences:** Young sunfish eat smaller invertebrates; adults consume larger prey including small fish and crayfish. - **Primary Foods:** insects, crayfish, small fish, tadpoles, snails - **Foraging Methods:** Ambush, Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Common prey for larger predatory fish. - **Eaten by:** [Great Blue Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-blue-heron) (*Ardea herodias*) — Hunted by wading birds in shallow areas. - **Eats:** Northern Crayfish (*Orconectes virilis*) — Preys on smaller crustaceans like crayfish. - **Eats:** Bloodworm midge larva (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Feeds on insect larvae found in sediment. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Green Sunfish? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Green Sunfish? 10-20 cm ### How much does Green Sunfish weigh? 0.1-0.3 kg ### How long does Green Sunfish live? 5-8 years ### What does Green Sunfish eat? Eats lots of different small critters, from insects to tiny fish, staying healthy! ### How fast can Green Sunfish swim? 5 km/h ### Where is Green Sunfish usually found? Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers ### How does Green Sunfish hunt? Ambush and Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bean Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bean-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Chelsea Parade Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chelsea-parade-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Hooes Road Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hooes-road-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Loisdale Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/loisdale-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Rattlesnake Springs Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rattlesnake-springs-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-hill-patrick-henry-national-memorial) — Virginia, US · National Park [View all places to see Green Sunfish](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/green-sunfish) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Green Sunfish: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-sunfish)