| Bass (IPA /bas/) is a name shared by many | | | | |
| different species of popular game fish. The | | | | Robalo (Portuguese) Lubina (Spanish) Bar, |
| term encompasses both freshwater and marine | | | | Loup (French) Zeebaars (Dutch) Seebarch |
| species, many of which are native to North | | | | (German) Havsaborre (Swedish) |
| America and surrounding waters. All belong to | | | | |
| the large order Perciformes, or perch-like | | | | The basslets are a small family, Grammatidae, |
| fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from | | | | of fishes in the order Perciformes. The |
| Middle English bars, meaning "perch."[1] Bass | | | | twelve members (in two genera) are all small |
| can measure up to 80 cm (although exceptional | | | | fish of the western Atlantic, typically no |
| 100 cm long bass have been recorded) | | | | more than 10 cm in length. Several species |
| | | | are colorful and popular for marine aquaria. |
| These are some of the best known species of | | | | |
| bass: | | | | Distinctive features include a lateral line |
| | | | divided into two subsegments or missing |
| The temperate basses, such as the striped | | | | entirely, and a sizeable pectoral fin with |
| bass (Morone saxatilis) and white bass (M. | | | | one spine. |
| chrysops), belonging to the family Moronidae. | | | | |
| | | | A number of other species may be called |
| | | | "basslets", in particular members of |
| The warm water basses (also known as black | | | | Serranidae, where they may be called "fairy |
| basses), such as the largemouth bass | | | | basslets". |
| (Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth bass (M. | | | | |
| dolomieu), spotted bass (M. punctulatus), | | | | The boxfishes are a family, Ostraciidae, of |
| Guadalupe bass (M. treculii) and rock bass | | | | squared, bony fish belonging to the order |
| (Ambloplites rupestris), belonging to the | | | | Tetraodontiformes, closely related to the |
| sunfish family, Centrarchidae. | | | | pufferfishes and filefishes. They come in a |
| | | | variety of different colors, and are notable |
| Largemouth bass can usually be found around | | | | for the hexagonal or "honeycomb" patterns in |
| structures, such as submerged logs or rocks. | | | | their skin and skeletons. They swim in a |
| The largemouth is known to be one of the best | | | | rowing manner. Fish in the family are known |
| "fighters" and a ferocious predator attacking | | | | variously as boxfishes, cofferfishes, |
| just about anything that moves. Largemouth | | | | cowfishes and trunkfishes. |
| have even been known to eat ducklings and | | | | |
| baby alligators. The world record largemouth | | | | Boxfishes occupy the Atlantic, Indian, and |
| bass was caught near Jacksonville, Georgia on | | | | Pacific oceans, generally at middle |
| June 2, 1932 by George Perry. It weighed 22 | | | | latitudes, although the common or buffalo |
| pounds 4 ounces and was caught from an oxbow | | | | trunkfish (Lactophrys trigonus) which lives |
| lake off the Ocmulgee River called Montgomery | | | | mainly in Florida waters may be found as far |
| Lake. This is one of the most sought-after | | | | north as Cape Cod. The cowfish variety |
| records in the fishing world. | | | | Lactophrys quadricornis can grow to 30 cm or |
| | | | more in size, but are generally smaller at |
| Many other species are also known as basses, | | | | higher latitudes. |
| including: | | | | |
| | | | The hexagonal plate-like scales of these fish |
| The Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, | | | | are fused together into a solid, triangular, |
| a member of the perch family, Percichthyidae. | | | | box-like carapace, from which the fins and |
| | | | tail protrude. Young boxfishes have a more |
| | | | rounded in shape and may exhibit bright |
| The black sea bass, Centropristis striata, a | | | | colors. Because of their body scale |
| member of the family Serranidae. | | | | structure, boxfishes are limited to slow |
| | | | movements. |
| The giant sea bass Stereolepis gigas, also | | | | |
| known as the black sea bass, a member of the | | | | Boxfish are edible, and are sometimes baked |
| family Polyprionidae. | | | | in their own shells. |
| | | | |
| The Chilean sea bass, Dissostichus | | | | In the aquarium |
| eleginoides, more commonly known as the | | | | |
| Patagonian toothfish. | | | | Boxfish generally are very personable fish |
| | | | yet are poorly suited for the home aquaria. |
| The European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax. | | | | They are not thought of as an ordinary |
| | | | aquarium tank mate, but are quickly gaining |
| The Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides | | | | popularity. They do pose a hazard in the |
| | | | community tank however. They are capable of |
| The Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui. | | | | releasing a very powerful toxin which can |
| | | | kill other fish and in some cases, the |
| The Striped bass, Morone saxatilis | | | | boxfish itself. They generally only use it |
| | | | when threatened or dying, but can become |
| The Spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus | | | | disturbed easily with aggressive tank mates |
| | | | or overcrowded aquarium. Generally boxfish |
| Bass is also known as: | | | | are not reef safe. |