Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)

• First described in 1819
• Currently two subspecies (Northern and invalidated Witchita)
• Upper jaw does not reach past middle of the pupil
• Spiny and soft-rayed dorsal fins joined with shallow notches between them
• Base of dorsal and anal fins have small scales
• Lateral body has multiple dark blotches that touch dorsal fin
• Lower lateral scales form dark, horizontal rows or stripes
• Dorsal fin with 10 spines and anal fin with 3 spines
• 55 to 71 lateral line scales