Bass (fish)

Bass ( /ˈbæs/) is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."^[1]

Types of basses

• The temperate basses, such as the striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and white bass (M. chrysops), belong to the family Moronidae.
• The black basses, such as the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), spotted bass (M. punctulatus), and Guadalupe bass (M. treculii), belong to the sunfish family, Centrarchidae.

Other species known as basses

Many species are also known as basses,^[2] including:

• The Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, is a member of the temperate perch family, Percichthyidae.
• The black sea bass, Centropristis striata, is a member of the sea bass and sea grouper family, Serranidae.
• The giant sea bass Stereolepis gigas, also known as the black sea bass, is a member of the wreckfish family, Polyprionidae.
• The Chilean sea bass, Dissostichus eleginoides, more commonly known as the Patagonian toothfish, is a member of the cod icefish family, Nototheniidae.
• The European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is a member of the temperate bass family, Moronidae.
• The "lanternbellies" or "temperate ocean-basses" - the family Acropomatidae.

References

1. ^ "Bass¹". American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. http://www.bartleby.com/61/51/B0105100.html. 
2. ^ "List of Common Names with bass". FishBase. http://www.fishbase.org/ComNames/CommonNameSearchList.php?CommonName=bass. Retrieved 6 June 2006.