Banded sunfish
March 16, 2007
Enneacanthus Gill, 1864, is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (family Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. The type species is E. obesus, the banded sunfish, and the species of this genus are known collectively as the banded or little sunfishes.
The Enneacanthus species, all of which grow to a maximum overall length of about 4 in (10 cm), are native to freshwater lakes, ponds, and estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.
All three species are kept as aquarium fish by hobbyists.
The generic name Enneacanthus derives from the Greek εννÎα (nine) and άκανθα (thorn).