# Striped Bass (*Morone saxatilis*) The Striped Bass is a strong swimmer with beautiful stripes along its sides. It enjoys living in both fresh and saltwater! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Rivers and oceans - **Also known as:** Striper ![Striped Bass](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426310/objects/4667.jpg) ## Appearance The Striped Bass has a sleek, silvery body with seven or eight prominent dark horizontal stripes running from behind its gill plate to its tail. Its sturdy, football-shaped body distinguishes it from slimmer fish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Moronidae - **Genus:** Morone ## Interesting facts - A Striped Bass can sense prey's movements in murky water without even seeing them! - Scientists can tell how old a Striped Bass is by counting rings on its ear bones, just like a tree! - Some Striped Bass travel hundreds of kilometers from rivers to the ocean and back again to spawn. - The Striped Bass is the official state fish of four different U.S. states! ## Special abilities - **Water Wanderer:** Striped Bass can live in both freshwater and saltwater because their bodies adapt, helping them find food and safe places. - **Team Hunters:** Striped Bass swim in large schools that help them corner and capture smaller fish, making hunting much easier. - **Powerful Swimmers:** Striped Bass have strong, muscular bodies that help them swim long distances and quickly chase down their prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-150 cm - **Weight:** 2-35 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-30 years - **Swim Speed:** 30 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 60 m - **Water Type:** Brackish ## Diet & Feeding These speedy predators gobble up smaller fish, shrimp, and crabs! - **Age differences:** Young bass eat invertebrates; adults primarily hunt other fish. - **Primary Foods:** Atlantic Menhaden, Alewife, Sand Lance, Shrimp, Crabs - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Atlantic Menhaden (*Brevoortia tyrannus*) — A key food source for Striped Bass in coastal waters. - **Hunts:** White Perch (*Morone americana*) — Often preyed upon by larger Striped Bass in shared estuarine habitats. - **Eats:** [Osprey](https://www.snappit.app/explore/osprey) (*Pandion haliaetus*) — Often preys on juvenile Striped Bass in shallow waters. - **Eats:** Dusky Shark (*Carcharhinus obscurus*) — Can prey on larger Striped Bass in offshore areas. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Striped Bass? 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 Striped Bass? 50-150 cm ### How much does Striped Bass weigh? 2-35 kg ### How long does Striped Bass live? 10-30 years ### What does Striped Bass eat? These speedy predators gobble up smaller fish, shrimp, and crabs! ### How fast can Striped Bass swim? 30 km/h ### Where is Striped Bass usually found? Rivers and oceans ### How does Striped Bass hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Fort Revere Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-revere-park) — US · State Park - [Old Lyme Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-lyme-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Africatown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/africatown) — Alabama, US · Neighborhood - [Blue Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blue-hill-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Bridgeport Downtown South Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bridgeport-downtown-south-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Striped Bass](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/striped-bass) ## 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: [Striped Bass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/striped-bass)