Centrarchidae

/ˌsenθrɑːrˈkeɪdiː/ noun

Definition

The scientific family name for sunfish, a group of North American freshwater fish including bass, bluegill, and crappies.

Etymology

From Greek kentron (center, spur, notch) + arkhē (beginning, first principle, rule), literally 'centered beginning.' The family was named for anatomical features.

Kelly Says

The entire sunfish family originated in North America and never naturally spread elsewhere—but thanks to humans introducing them, centrarchids now live on every continent except Antarctica, changing local ecosystems everywhere.

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