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