Artificial Propagation of Sunfishes, with Meristic Comparisons of Three Species of Lepomis and Five of Their Hybrids

Abstract

All possible crosses among three species of sunfishes—the bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque; the redear, Lepomis microlophus (Günther); and the redbreast, Lepomis auritus (Linnaeus)—were successfully produced. One cross, female redbreast X male bluegill, was made by placing one adult of each species in a plastic pool and allowing them to spawn. The five remaining crosses were produced two to nine times each by stripping and artificial insemination. Progeny from five of the six possible crosses were stocked in plastic and/or concrete pools and allowed to grow for approximately 2 months. Samples from each cross were examined, and 10 meristic counts were recorded for each fish. Corresponding counts were made on samples from each parent species. The data provide characterizations of parent species and their hybrids as well as comparisons among them. The comparisons showed that hybrids were generally intermediate between their parent species in most taxonomic characters. A blending or multiple allelic inheritance rather than simple Mendelian inheritance was indicated in the determination of these characters. Other sunfish crosses were successfully made, but the progeny were not reared. The fertility of hybrid males from the F1 cross of female bluegill X male redbreast was established in crosses with female green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, female bluegill, and female redear. Reciprocal crosses between the green sunfish and redear were made. Female green sunfish were also successfully crossed with a male redbreast and with a male bluegill.