Two individuals - different size classes - from the same survey at this site. Spring Creek is small spring-fed tributary in the Neosho River watershed in the Ozark Highlands of northeast Oklahoma. I am not quite sure which Ambloplites is thought to be in the watershed in this part of the state. Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris) has been introduced into the nearby Illinois River (Arkansas River basin, but not in the Neosho), but supposedly Shadow Bass (Ambloplites ariommus) was there originally and hybrids may occur there. I'm less familiar with what occurs in Neosho tribs in Missouri (Rock Bass?).
Both species have the patchwork pattern as juveniles - Shadow Bass retain this in adulthood, in Rock Bass it fades and the horizontal rows of black spots are the most prominent pattern. Unfortunately I'm not sure if the larger individual here is large enough to make that distinction.
At the time of the survey, we considered this A. rupestris.
With Dr. Tony Echelle, Dr. Stan Fox, and approximately 25 students. Oklahoma State University Department of Zoology - Biology of Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles (Zoology 4115) field-trip. I was TA'ing.
Caught this at Lanier today. My first largemouth!
Small mammals were trapped, identified, weighed and released. Field notes were compiled for wildlife biologist.