Fish
Bluespotted Sunfish
Enneacanthus gloriosus · also called bluespotted sunfishes
Drifting through the tea-coloured water of a coastal swamp, a bluespotted sunfish flashes rows of tiny iridescent spots as it turns among the vegetation, thriving in an acidic, tannin-stained habitat that keeps many competing sunfish species away entirely.
Overview
The bluespotted sunfish, Enneacanthus gloriosus, is a small, finely spotted sunfish native to slow-moving wetland, swamp, and blackwater stream habitat across the coastal plain of the eastern United States. Its striking iridescent spotting, small adult size, and genuine tolerance for acidic, tannin-stained water make it a distinctive and specialised member of the sunfish family.
A sunfish built for blackwater
While many sunfish species prefer clearer, more neutral water, the bluespotted sunfish has carved out a niche in the acidic, tea-coloured swamps and blackwater streams of the coastal plain, conditions that limit competition from less tolerant relatives.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable wetland and blackwater habitat throughout the coastal plain of the eastern United States.
Bluespotted Sunfish: common questions
Why can the bluespotted sunfish live in water other sunfish avoid?
This species has adapted to tolerate the acidic, tannin-stained water typical of swamps and blackwater streams, conditions that many other sunfish species find inhospitable, allowing the bluespotted sunfish to thrive in slow-moving wetland habitat with relatively little competition from other sunfish.
How can you identify a bluespotted sunfish?
Look for numerous small, iridescent blue spots scattered across a dark olive to nearly black body, a fine speckled pattern distinctive enough to be reflected in both the species' common name and its scientific species name, gloriosus.
How big does a bluespotted sunfish get?
This species stays notably small compared to many other members of the sunfish family, rarely growing much beyond a few inches in length even as a fully grown adult, making it one of the smaller sunfish species found in North America.
Does the bluespotted sunfish guard its eggs?
Yes, like other sunfish species, a male bluespotted sunfish sweeps out a shallow nest depression in the substrate and actively guards the eggs and resulting fry after spawning, defending them against potential predators until the young are able to fend for themselves.