Black Bass Diversity: Multidisciplinary Science for Conservation

Shoal Bass Micropterus cataractae Williams & Burgess, 1999

Steven M. Sammons, Katie L. Woodside, and Christopher J. Paxton

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874400.ch9

Formerly believed to be an undescribed subspecies of Redeye Bass Micropterus coosae or an undescribed species, Shoal Bass M. cataractae was formally described by Williams and Burgess (1999). Bailey and Hubbs (1949) noted differences between this species and Suwannee Bass M. notius, Redeye Bass, and Alabama Spotted Bass M. punctulatus henshalli (now elevated to species, Alabama Bass M. henshalli; Baker et al. 2008) and concluded that it likely represented an undescribed species. Using molecular and morphometric data, Kassler et al. (2002) found that Shoal Bass was monophyletic with respect to the other Micropterus spp. and found that it was identifiable from other taxa using meristics. However, hybrids of this species with native and introduced Micropterus spp. have been identified from rivers and streams across its range (Maceina et al. 2007; Tringali et al. 2015, this volume).