Common Name
Walleye Bass
Year Described
Poey, 1852
Identification
Dorsal Fin: X, 11-12
Anal Fin: III, 7
Pelvic Fin: I, 5
Pectoral Fin: 14
Lateral Line Scales: 50-55
Gill Rakers: 20-24
Vertebrae: 10 precaudal, 14 caudal; 24 total
Serranus defined by Robins & Starck (1961) with the following set of characters. Supramaxilla absent. Maxilla not covered by lachrymal. Premaxillary with a dorsal expansion. Teeth present on dentary, premaxilla, vomer, and palatine. Preopercle serrated. Opercle with three spines. Dorsal fin continuous. Caudal fin with 17 principal rays. Branchiostegal rays number 7. Snout, jaw area, and brachiostegal area naked. Scales encroach on bases of median fin membranes. Lateral line arched and continuous.
Body strongly fusiforme and head very pointed. Lower jaw strongly projecting.
Color
Body whitish with a aquamarine to blue sheen. Pattern dominated by three parallel dark brown to black stripes that are interrupted along their length into distinct blotches. Interspaces between blotches paler brown. Center stripe continues through eye. Blotches on head more reddish in color. Dorsal midline with dark blotches that continue onto dorsal fin (especially on middle of spiny dorsal). Rest of fins variably pale whitish to yellowish with faint markings. Caudal fin clear with dark edging formed from the body bars tapering onto fin. Eye yellowish.
References
Robins, C.R. & W.A., Starck II. 1961. Materials for a revision of Serranus and related fish genera. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 113 (no. 11): 259-314.