http://www.io.com/~danjohns/fish/largemouth_bass.html
and spotted bass:
http://www.io.com/~danjohns/fish/spotted_bass.html.
The checklist of Freshwater Fish of Texas by Hubbs, et al, states that
ratios of largest to smallest dorsal spines are as follows:
2.4 to 3.9 for salmoides
1.1 to 2.5 for punctulatus (and other species)
I have annotated these ratios in the captions for all photos where they
could be measured. All fall in the range for punctulatus.
punctulatus have teeth on the tongue, salmoides usually doesn't. The
two fish on the punctulatus page, which I have preserved, have teeth.
The other fish are not available.
The peterson guide states that young punctulatus have distinct
tricolored tails as you can see in some of the younger specimens on the
salmoides page. I can't remember the reference, but I read salmoides
young have a more bicolored tail. Peterson doesn't describe the tail
for young for salmoides.
I'm starting to wonder if all the fish on my salmoides page are actually
punctulatus. Any opinions from micropterus experts out there?
Thanks in advance.
--Dan
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