The green sunfish has a moderately compressed body that is highlighted in bluish-green with emerald and yellow luminosity. It has a belly that is white, sometimes fading to yellow and a black ear flap that is outlined by pale. This fish generally has a black spot near the end of the dorsal and anal fins. The mouth is fairly large and the upper jaw procedes back to the ceter of the eye. Its pectoral fin is short and rounded.
Green sunfish are present in many lakes, reservoirs and all streams.They are tolerant of turbid water unlike most other sunfish species. Green sunfish generally don't have a particular bottom preference, but at times, have been known to form in schools around small natural structures.
Green sunfish primarily have a diet that consists of insects, mollusks and other small fishes. The small fish frequently becomes overcrowded in small bodies of water (ponds, small lakes). As a great compeditor, "greens" are more aggressive than other species of sunfish.
The green sunfish spawns in colonies from May through August. The male is responsible for constructing and defending the nest in shallow waters. The female will then lays between 2,000 to 26,000 eggs.
