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Pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
Bill Byrne, MA
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Habitat requirements and life history:
: The pumpkinseed, often referred to as a "kiver" or "kibbie"
in New England, is the most widespread and colorful native
sunfish in Massachusetts. Pumpkinseeds inhabit lakes, ponds,
slow-moving streams that are cool, quiet, shallow and weedy.
They generally favor slightly cooler waters than the bluegill.
They feed primarily on insects, but will also eat crustaceans,
fish eggs, very small fish and aquatic vegetation. Like all
sunfish, pumpkinseeds breed in the spring in shallow, saucer-shaped
nests scooped out by the males. Unlike bluegills, which usually
concentrate their nests in colonies, pumpkinseeds place their
nests in scattered locations. The males round up one or more
females and bring them to the nest to lay eggs. After the
male fertilizes the eggs, he drives off the female and fans
the eggs with his tail until they hatch. He will stay to protect
the young until they can fend for themselves. (Sources:
Massachusetts Wildlife, No. 2, 2000, Special Fishing Issue
and AMC Guide to Freshwater Fishing in New England)
Total length:
4 - 5 inches (occasionally up to 10 inches)
Pollution tolerance (US EPA): Intermediate
tolerance
Classification:
Macrohabitat generalist
Number of fish found during 1954 &
2001 Fish Surveys*.
| Location |
No. of Fish 1954 |
No. of Fish 2001 |
| Assabet River |
353 |
221 |
| Assabet Brook |
|
30 |
| Elizabeth Brook |
|
4 |
| Forth Meadow Brook |
1 |
20 |
| Hog Brook |
|
1 |
| Hop Brook |
5 |
|
| Mill Brook |
|
29 |
| Nashoba Brook |
166 |
10 |
| North Brook |
21 |
18 |
| Stirrup Brook |
4 |
|
| Spencer Brook |
29 |
5 |
| UNT Assabet River |
|
1 |
| Total |
579 |
339 |
*Sources:
Schlotterbeck, L.C. and W.A. Tompkins, 1954. "A
Fisheries Investigation of the Merrimack and Ipswich River Drainages."
Bureau of Wildlife Research and Management, Massachusetts Division
of Fisheries and Game.
DFW, 2001. Assabet Watershed Fish Survey. MA Department of
Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.
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