Flier (fish)

2025-11-03T23:02:22Z

2600:4040:2CA7:4000:A80D:4B39:75F8:4A3F: Grammatical, added comma

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Flier (fish)}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Centrarchus macropterus (1).jpg
| image2 = Centrarchus macropterus 364439644.jpg
| image2_caption = In [[Virginia]]
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=NatureServe |date=2013 |title=''Centrarchus macropterus'' |volume=2013 |article-number=e.T202434A2744948 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202434A2744948.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref>
| display_parents = 3
| parent_authority = [[Georges Cuvier|Cuvier]], 1829<ref name = CofF>{{Cof record|genid=1120|title=''Centrarchus''|access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref>
| taxon = Centrarchus macropterus
| authority = ([[Bernard Germain de Lacépède|Lacépède]], 1801)
| synonyms = ''Labrus macropterus'' <small>Lacépède, 1801</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{Fishbase|Centrarchus|macropterus|month+december|year=2019}}</ref>
}}

The '''flier''' ('''''Centrarchus macropterus''''') is a species of freshwater [[ray-finned fish]], a sunfish from the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Centrarchidae]] which is [[Endemism|endemic]] to the southern United States of America. It is the only species in the [[monotypy|monospecific]] genus '''''Centrarchus'''''. A [[Second World War]] [[United States Navy]] submarine was named the [[USS Flier (SS-250)|USS ''Flier'']] after this fish.

==Description==
The flier is a small, strongly compressed species of sunfish which has a moderately sized, oblique mouth. The [[dorsal fin]] has 11–13 spines and 12–14 soft rays while the [[anal fin]] has 7–8 spines and 13–15 soft rays. It has a [[lateral line]] and the scales are [[ctenoid]]. The flanks have a scattering of dark spots, the underside is pale, and the upperparts are olive in color. There is a vertical dark line through the eye which continues below the eye in what has been described as a "teardrop". Fish of a [[fish measurement|standard length]] less than around {{convert|45|mm|in|sp=us}} have an obvious dark eyespot, or [[ocellus]], which has a reddish margin on the soft part of the dorsal fin. The [[pectoral fin|pectoral]] and [[pelvic fin]]s are dusky with paler reticulations.<ref name = FoTX>{{cite web | url = http://www.fishesoftexas.org/taxa/centrarchus-macropterus | title = ''Centrarchus macropterus'' Flier | access-date = 22 May 2020 | publisher = Ichthyology Collection at The University of Texas at Austin | work = Fishes of Texas}}</ref> The maximum [[fish measurement|total length]] recorded is {{convert|29.2|cm|in|sp=us}} but they are more commonly around {{convert|13|cm|in|sp=us}} and the maximum published weight is 1.35 pounds.<ref name = Fishbase/>

==Distribution==
The flier is found in the southern part of the United States along the Atlantic seaboard from the [[Potomac River]] drainage in [[Maryland]], where it was most likely introduced, to central Florida. It is then found along the [[Gulf of Mexico]] drainages as far west as the [[Trinity River (Texas)|Trinity River]], [[Texas]], and then north in [[Mississippi River]] system to above the [[fall line]] in southern [[Illinois]] and southern [[Indiana]].<ref name = NAS>{{cite web | url = https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=375 | title = ''Centrarchus macropterus'' | access-date = 22 May 2020 | publisher = USGS | work = Nonindigenous Aquatic Species}}</ref>

==Habitat and biology==
The flier is found in clear, acidic waters including ponds in swamps, [[Slough (hydrology)|slough]]s, [[Oxbow lake|oxbow]]s, slow-flowing creeks and steams. These habitats should be heavily vegetated and have an average water temperature of {{convert|23|to|29|°C|F}}. They feed largely on invertebrates including insects, [[snail]]s, worms and [[leech]]es although they will also eat smaller fishes and some [[phytoplankton]].<ref name = TP&W>{{cite web | url = https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/flier/ | title = Flier (''Centrarchus macropterus'') | access-date = 22 May 2020 | publisher = Texas Parks and Wildlife}}</ref> Breeding normally occurs March to May when the water temperature reaches {{convert|14-17|°C|F}} but it has been recorded as early as February. The gravid females have been collected from a variety of habitat including debris filled ditches with soft bottoms as well as gravel bottomed streams and heavily vegetated sand and gravel pits. They will spawn in a variety of water conditions ranging from free-flowing clear or turbid water through stagnant water in ditches and pools. Fliers create nests in rocks or gravel and surround their eggs with a round adhesive egg envelope. They are colonial nesters, nesting in aggregations with the nests quite closely spaced. Sexual maturity is attained at one year old and when they are {{convert|70|mm|in|sp=us}} long.<ref name = FoTX/> The male parent guards the eggs and newly hatched fry. If they are frightened or alarmed, these fish will look for shelter among aquatic vegetation, submerged tree roots or mats of floating vegetation.<ref name = TP&W/>

==Taxonomy and etymology==
The flier was first formally [[Species description|described]] by the [[French people|French]] [[naturalist]] [[Bernard Germain de Lacépède]] (1756–1825) in 1801 as ''Labrus macropterus'' with the [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] given as South Carolina.<ref name = CofFS>{{Cof record | spid = 36370 | title = ''Labrus macropterus'' | access-date = 22 May 2020}}</ref> In 1829 [[Georges Cuvier]] placed it in the [[genus]] ''Centrarchus''.<ref name = CofFG>{{Cof record | genid = 36370 | access-date = 22 May 2020}}</ref> The genus ''Centrarchus'' is the [[sister taxon]] to the ''[[Archoplites]]'' and in turn these two are sister to ''[[Pomoxis]]''.<ref name = FoTX/> The generic name is a compound of the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''kentron'' meaning "sting" and ''archos'' meaning "anus", a reference to the long spines in the anal fin. The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] ''macropterus'' is also Greek and means "long fin".<ref name = Fishbase/>

==Cultural references==
A [[Gato class submarine|''Gato''-class]] [[submarine]], [[USS Flier (SS-250)|USS ''Flier'']], built in 1943, was named for this species.<ref name = USN>{{cite web | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/f/flier.html | title = Flier (SS-250) 1943–1944 | access-date = 22 May 2020 | publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command}}</ref>

{{Commons category|Centrarchus macropterus}}
{{Wiktionary}}

==See also==
*[[Centrarchiformes]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

"Flier (Centrarchus Macropterus)." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/flier/>.

Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of the fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, 7th Edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda Maryland.

"Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries." Flier (Centrarchus Macropterus). N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <https://web.archive.org/web/20140501143348/http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/fish/details.asp?fish=010176>.

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2142174}}

[[Category:Centrarchinae]]
[[Category:Freshwater fish of the Southeastern United States]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Southeastern United States]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1801]]
[[Category:Freshwater fish of North America]]

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Flier (fish)