Pumpkinseed

Lepomis, the generic name, is Greek and means "scaled gill cover". The species epithet gibbosus is also Greek and means "wide margin". Pumpkinseed gets its common name from its body shape, resembling the seed of a pumpkin. They are often called just “sunfish,” although technically-speaking this name can be applied to all members of the Centrarchidae family.

Pumpkinseed has a brown or olive back, brassy yellow to olive green and a yellow or yellow-orange belly. The sides are densely covered with spots of bright copper or gold and 7 to 10 faint green to blue diffused vertical bars that are more prominent in females. Sometimes 3-5 narrow, wavy, emerald or blue lines alternating with orange-brown lines radiate backward from snout and eye. The gill cover has a distinctive orange-red spot in a half-moon shape on the rear edge in adults. Orange spots may cover the dorsal, anal, and caudal (tail) fins. The leading edge of the dorsal spines is black, while the pectoral fins may be amber or clear. The remaining fins are usually gray, though sometimes they may appear yellow. Pumpkinseeds are deep-bodied and laterally compressed. They have a small mouth with pads of small teeth and an upper jaw that stops just under the eye pupil. The tail is slightly forked and rounded. Pumpkinseeds have a front dorsal fin that is spiny and the pectoral fin is long and pointed and can be extended past the eye when bent forward.

Breeding adults are similar to non-breeders, but males are more brilliantly colored than females and females exhibit more prominent dark, vertical bands. Juveniles are similar to adults, but the spots and colors are less intense.

Pumpkinseed can be told apart from bluegill by remembering that the bluegill has a blue-black spot on the margin of the gill cover. On the pumpkinseed, that spot is bright orange-red. The pumpkinseed is usually lighter and more brilliantly hued, with turquoise and orange cheek stripes in larger individuals.