Elassoma gilberti
Snelson, Krabbenhoft and Quattro 2009
Family Elassomatidae
The Gulf Coast pygmy sunfish is a member of the pygmy sunfish family. It has dark brown bars on the side of the body, many black specks and spots on the head and body and two large cream-colored spots at the caudal fin base. The Gulf Coast pygmy sunfish has four preopercular canal pores and between seven and eight anal rays. This species has light-colored lips, and large males are black with bright iridescent blue bars on the side of the body and below the eye. The Gulf Coast pygmy sunfish can be found in swamps, sloughs, ditches and backwaters of small streams. This species is usually found near vegetation or woody debris.
Status & distribution
- Status — Native freshwater
- Florida Distribution — Western and North Central and Peninsula drainages
- River Drainages — Choctawhatchee River, Apalachicola River, Ochlockonee River, minor Gulf tributaries, Suwannee River and Lake Okeechobee