Enneacanthus is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. The type species is E. obesus, the banded sunfish, and the species of this genus are known collectively as the banded or little sunfishes.

Enneacanthus
Enneacanthus obesus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Centrarchidae
Subfamily: Centrarchinae
Genus: Enneacanthus
T. N. Gill, 1864
Type species
Enneacanthus obesus
Girard, 1854

The Enneacanthus species, all of which grow to a maximum overall length of about 10 cm (4 in), are native to freshwater lakes, ponds, and estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.

All three species are kept as aquarium fish by hobbyists.

Etymology edit

The generic name Enneacanthus derives from the Greek εννέα (nine) and άκανθα (thorn).

Species edit

The currently recognized species in this genus are:[1]

Image Scientific name Common Name Distribution
  Enneacanthus chaetodon (S. F. Baird, 1855) black-banded sunfish
  Enneacanthus gloriosus (Holbrook, 1855) blue-spotted sunfish
  Enneacanthus obesus (Girard, 1854) banded sunfish


 
Blue-spotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus)

References edit

  1. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). Species of Enneacanthus in FishBase. February 2013 version.