Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

• First described in 1802
• Currently two classified subspecies (northern and neosho)
• A third non-taxonomically classified subspecies in Quachita Mountains
• Upper jaw does not reach past the eye
• 3 dark bars on each cheek
• Spiny and soft-rayed dorsal fins joined with shallow notches between them
• Bases of dorsal and anal fins have small scales
• 8 to 16 vertical lateral bars
• Dorsal fin with 9 to 10 spines and anal fin with 3 spines
• 67 to 81 lateral line scales