The "h" Word

You're on to a key idea of biology, that within species there can be a fair amount of variation. I'd also say the fish is a green, but from that one photo, that's maybe an informed opinion. I still think the most parsimonious ID is that of a species.

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A "species"? And what might that be?

The war against hybrids needs YOU! And your $$.

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A "species"? And what might that be?

The war against hybrids needs YOU! And your $$.

Funny you should mention... in the new issue of American Currents, Chris Scharpf has an excellent short primer on current species concepts. Is my species the same as yours? Either way, it's one more good reason to join and support NANFA - hooray!

I would have to say once again there is no way I would beleive that is a pure green sunfish. It is definately a hybrid of sorts and has some green sunfish in it and maybe P-seed or longear or could be some sort of back cross but that fishes history is not pure green sunfish. The most obvious thing is the speckling on the side of the fish, which looks nothing like a typical green. The lines on it's side don't line up. Another obvious thing is the end of the opercle flap has a bright red spot, I have never seen a green with that bright of red on it. The do get a rusty red color at times but not bright red by any means. Of course to each their own opinion but this one seems blairingly obvious to me.

I would have to say once again there is no way I would beleive that is a pure green sunfish. It is definately a hybrid of sorts and has some green sunfish in it and maybe P-seed or longear or could be some sort of back cross but that fishes history is not pure green sunfish. The most obvious thing is the speckling on the side of the fish, which looks nothing like a typical green. The lines on it's side don't line up. Another obvious thing is the end of the opercle flap has a bright red spot, I have never seen a green with that bright of red on it. The do get a rusty red color at times but not bright red by any means. Of course to each their own opinion but this one seems blairingly obvious to me.

Humph! (As Rudyard Kipling would say)