Crappie are members of the sunfish family, Centrarchidae. This scientific classification includes many well-known freshwater fish in North America.
Understanding the Sunfish Family
The sunfish family, Centrarchidae, consists of ray-finned freshwater fish native to North America. These fish exhibit a laterally compressed body shape and fused dorsal fins. They also possess spiny dorsal fins and typically have three to eight anal spines. Sunfish are known for their nest-building behaviors, where males create depressions in the substrate and guard the eggs and young.
Crappie: A Sunfish Species
Crappie belong to the genus Pomoxis. There are two species: the Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and the White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis). Both have a large mouth that extends to or behind the eye. Black crappie have irregular black spots across their silvery-gray to green bodies and typically have seven or eight dorsal fin spines. White crappie often display five to ten distinct vertical bars on their sides and usually possess five or six dorsal fin spines.
Crappie typically measure between 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches) in length, though some black crappie can reach up to 49 cm (19.3 inches). Black crappie prefer clear water with abundant vegetation or submerged structures. White crappie are more tolerant of murky waters and are often found in open water or near wood cover. As adults, both species primarily consume smaller fish, but their diet also includes zooplankton, insects, and crustaceans.
Identifying Different Sunfish
Differentiating crappie from other sunfish species involves observing specific physical traits. Crappie’s large mouth, where the upper jaw extends past the middle of the eye, contrasts with the smaller mouths of many other sunfish like bluegill. Bluegill are typically more rounded in body shape and possess a distinct blue or black spot on their gill covers, a characteristic absent in crappie.
Largemouth bass, also members of the sunfish family, can be distinguished by their elongated bodies and a prominent horizontal dark stripe along their sides, unlike the more disc-like crappie. Green sunfish have a larger mouth compared to most sunfish, along with blue-dotted stripes and a dark spot at the base of their dorsal fin. Pumpkinseed sunfish are identifiable by wavy blue lines on their heads and a distinct red spot on the opercular flap, differing from crappie’s mottled or barred patterns.
The Source of the Confusion
The common question regarding whether crappie are sunfish often stems from imprecise terminology and regional variations in fish names. Many freshwater fish are broadly categorized as “panfish” based on their size and suitability for cooking. This non-scientific term can include various species not all belonging to the sunfish family, leading to confusion.
Regional common names for crappie, such as “papermouths,” “calico bass,” or “speckled perch,” can obscure their scientific classification. While these colloquial names are widely used, scientific classification provides a precise system that confirms crappie’s place within Centrarchidae, alongside other sunfish, bluegill, and bass. Despite varied common names, crappie are definitively sunfish.