Physical 

The pumpkinseed is a sunfish with an olive green back and yellow sides mottled with orange, red, and blue. Their bellies are yellow or bright orange. The gills are horizontally striped with a dark red spot on the corner. The dorsal fin has spines in the front and is soft in the back. Adults grow to an average size of 4-6 in (10.2-15.2 cm).

 

Habitat

Their native range spans parts of the Midwest into Canada and the Atlantic coast from Maine to South Carolina. This includes the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and upper Mississippi river watershed. They’ve been stocked as a sport fish in multiple other states. They prefer shallow freshwater environments with a lot of vegetation.

 

Feeding 

Pumpkinseed eat insects, molluscs, crustaceans, and other fish eggs.