Roanoke bass

The Roanoke bass (Ambloplites cavifrons) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Centrarchiformes. This species is endemic to rivers in the eastern United States of America, where it is native only to the states of Virginia and North Carolina.

Description

Roanoke bass have a robust, compressed body with a large, terminal mouth and a nearly scaleless cheek. The anal fin has a dark margin, the pectoral fin is rounded and the caudal fin is emarginate. The eye is large and red contrasting with the dark brown or olive colour of the body.

The Roanoke bass closely resembles the rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) and the two are easily and often confused notwithstanding different colouring. The Roanoke bass is dark, olive green to olive brown on the back, fading to grayish on the flanks and white on the underside. The spots on its scales are smaller than those of rock bass and they have paler small whitish or yellowish spots on the upper body. The forehead is slightly concave and this and the paucity of scales on the cheek also distinguishes the Roanoke bass.<ref name = Aquafind>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The maximum published total length for this species is Template:Convert and the maximum weight is Template:Convert.<ref name = Fishbase>{{#invoke:Cite taxon|main|fishbase|genus=Ambloplites|species=cavifrons|subspecies=}}</ref>

Distribution

Roanoke bass are native to a few river systems in Virginia and North Carolina on the Atlantic seaboard of the United States of America. Its range covers the Chowan, Roanoke, Tar, Neuse, and Cape Fear drainage systems but it has seemingly been extirpated from the extreme upper reaches of the Roanoke system.<ref name=NatureServe/> Historical introductions into the middle New River and upper and lower James River drainages for sportfishing did not produce viable populations.<ref name=NatureServe/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Habitat and biology

Roanoke bass are found in large creeks, streams and small rivers where they Prefer clear waters, although some turbidity may be tolerated, as well as in darker stained waters originating from swamps found in rivers such as the Nottoway and Blackwater. They are most frequently recorded in quite deep, fast flowing runs and around rocks and gravel, or at the heads of pools.<ref name = DGIF>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They are predatory fish which feed in a wide variety of animals such as insects, worms, leeches and crayfish, as well as smaller fish like fathead minnows, golden shiners and gizzard shad.<ref name = Aquafind/> In captivity, the males built and guarded nests in shallow water on gravel, sandy and muddy substrates were avoided.<ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021" />

Conservation

Roanoke bass have been assessed by the IUCN as being of least concern<ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021" /> but NatureServe assesses the species as vulnerable and states that due to habitat degradation together with hybridisation and competition from introduced rock bass the species has declined.<ref name = NatureServe/>

Ambloplites cavifrons is a species of special concern in Virginia<ref name = DGIF/> and is listed by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program as "significantly rare."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Relationship with humans

The IGFA all tackle world record for the species stands at Template:Convert caught in the Nottoway River of Virginia in 1991. On May 7, 2023, a Template:Convert Roanoke bass was caught on the Dan River in Virginia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

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