Lepomis megalotis

The deep body is strongly compressed from side to side. The front part of the dorsal fin has spines while the rear part has only soft rays. There are 3 spines in the anal fin. The long ear flap (most pronounced in adult males) is oriented horizontally in adults and slants upward in young; it is usually black with a narrow white border (in the north there may also be a red spot at the rear of the ear flap. The cheeks and gill covers have wavy blue lines. The pectoral fins are short and rounded. Maximum length is around 9.5 inches (24 cm). In adults, the back is bright red and the under side is bright orange. Adults also have blue spots and marbling. Young have an olive back and white belly; the sides are speckled with yellow and often have chainlike bars.

This species is native to the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, Mississippi River, and Gulf Slope drainages west of the Appalachians, from southern Quebec to western Ontario and Minnesota, and south to the Florida panhandle and southern Texas; Gulf Slope from Choctawhatchee River, Florida, to Rio Grande system, Texas, New Mexico, and northeastern Mexico. It has been introduced in some other places in the United States.

Longear sunfish prefer clear, shallow, well-vegetated areas of low-gradient streams, but they do thrive in some reservoirs. Typically they are in headwaters, creeks, and small to medium rivers in uplands. Often they are seen in rocky and sandy pools, usually near vegetation. They avoid strong current, turbid water, and silt bottoms.

Spawning occurs in late spring and summer. Eggs are laid in nests made by males in shallow water in gravel (or sometimes sand or hard mud), at depths ranging from about 8 inches (20 cm) to as much as 10 feet (300 cm) or more. This species often breeds in colonies of closely spaced nests. Eggs hatch in about 3-5 days. Males guard eggs and hatchlings (for up to a week or more after hatching).