The native range of the Redear Sunfish includes the Savannah River in Georgia, extending south through Florida, west to the Rio Grande River, and north along the Mississippi River Valley to southern Illinois and Indiana. Their preferred habitat includes calm waters such as ponds, lakes, and the backwaters of rivers. The Redear Sunfish is primarily a bottom feeder. As juveniles, they feed on algae and microcrustaceans until their jaws are fully developed after about one year of age. At that point, they begin feeding mainly on snails and, as adults, will also consume aquatic insects, copepods, and other crustaceans. Redear Sunfish commonly reach lengths of up to 25 cm (10 in). They are deep-bodied, olive-colored fish with darker spots and flecks of red, and occasionally display vertical bars along their sides. The rear edge of the gill flap, resembling an ear, is black with a white border and has a red spot at the tip, giving the species its name. Source: Animal Diversity (https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepomis_microlophus/)