Shoal Bass
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A New Species of Bass, Micropterus cataractae (Teleostei: Centrarchidae), from the Apalachicola River Basin in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia
James D. Williams
U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Florida Caribbean Science Center, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653
and
George H. Burgess
Florida Museum of Natural History, Ichthyology Division, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611
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P.O. Box 117800, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800; USA
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The shoal bass, Micropterus cataractae (Centrarchidae), is described from the Apalachicola,
Chattahoochee, and Flint River drainages of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. It has been introduced and
is now established in the Altamaha River drainage in central Georgia. A moderate sized bass, it attains
a total length of about 64 cm (25 in) and weight of 3.99 kg (8 lb 12 oz). The new species differs from
other species of Micropterus in details of morphology and pigmentation. Morphologically it is
most similar to the spotted bass, M. punctulatus, but usually has been aligned with the redeye
bass, M. coosae. It inhabits shoal areas of rivers and large creeks throughout its range. Most
of its riverine habitat has been destroyed by impoundments and dredging, but it persists in the
unimpounded portion of the Flint River. Populations also persist in some of the larger, less disturbed,
tributaries of the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint rivers.
Comparison of pigment pattern and morphology of four species of Micropterus from the Apalachicola River basin. Data for salmoides based on our data and Bailey and Hubbs (1949).
| CHARACTERISTICS |
cataractae |
coosae |
P. punctulatus |
salmoides |
| Parallel rows of spots on ventrolateral portion of body |
5-7 weakly developed rows of dark spots |
5-8 well developed rows of dark spots extending posteriorly
onto the caudal peduncle |
4-6 weakly developed rows of dark spots |
scattered dark spots may be present, rows of spots absent
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| Midlateral pigment in adults |
dark vertical bars |
dark confluent irregular blotches or stripe |
dark confluent irregular blotches or stripe |
dark confluent irregular blotches |
| Teeth on tongue |
typically none |
oval to rectangular patch |
oval to rectangular patch |
typically none |
| Dorsal fins connected or separate |
connected |
connected |
connected |
separate |
| Scales on base of anal and second dorsal fins |
present |
present |
present |
absent |
| Lateral line scales |
67-8 1, usually 72-77 |
62-73, usually 64-69 |
59-70, usually 61-64 |
64-72, usually 65-70 |
| Cheek scales |
12-16, usually 13-15 |
11-15, usually 12-13 |
11-17, usually 12-13 |
10-13, usually 11-12 |
| Scales above LL |
8-10, usually 9 |
7-9, usually 7-8 |
6-9, usually 7-8 |
7-9, usually 8-9 |
| Scales below LL |
15-21, usually 18-20 |
13-16, usually 14-15 |
12-15, usually 13 |
14-18, usually 15-16 |
| Total caudal peduncle scales |
27-35, usually 30-33 |
25-3 1, usually 27-29 |
23-27, usually 24-25 |
26-30, usually 26-28 |
| Peduncle scales above LL |
12-16, usually 14-15 |
11-14, usually 13 |
10-13, usually 11-12 |
11-13, usually 13 |
| Peduncle scales below LL |
13-17, usually 15 |
12-15, usually 12-13 |
11-13, usually 11-12 |
12-13, usually 13 |
| Approximate maximum size |
3.99 kg (8 lb 12 oz) |
1.0 kg (2 lb 4 oz) |
4.1 kg (8 lb 15 oz) |
7.6 kg (16 lb 12 oz) |
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Photos of Shoal Bass and Related Species
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shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae), total length 83 mm (3.3 in)
photo © George Burgess |
redeye bass (Micropterus coosae), total length 90 mm (3.5 in)
photo © George Burgess
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shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae), total length 115 mm (4.5 in)
photo © George Burgess |
largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), total length 101 mm (4.0 in)
photo © George Burgess
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shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae), total length 300 mm (11.8 in)
photo © George Burgess |
spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus), total length 157 mm (6.2 in)
photo © George Burgess
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shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae), total length 310 mm (12.2 in)
photo © George Burgess |
Suwanee bass (Micropterus notius), total length 258 mm (10.2)
photo © George Burgess
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shoal bass (Micropterus cataractae), total length 430 mm (16.9 in)
photo © George Burgess |
Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus),
total length 310 mm (12.2 in)
photo © George Burgess
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