Key Identification Features
- Researchers Hay, Jordan, and Gilbert later proposed it was an intermediate form between pirate perch and the centrarchid sunfish family, so it was placed into its own distinct family, Elassomatidae.
- Most females have brown backs with mottled brown and cream or white underparts, though some may be reddish brown, and females have no distinct markings.
- Male bodies can be black, brown, or dark green with blotches or spots, and a few indistinct dark bars may appear on the male body.
For instant identification in the field, use the iNature app — AI-powered, works offline.
