Skip to content

Cave Biology Data Portal

Subterranean biodiversity of North America and around the globe

  • ExploreExpand
    • Species
    • Taxonomy
    • States and Provinces
    • Karst Regions
    • Caves You Can Visit
  • ResourcesExpand
    • Funding Opportunities
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Meeting and Events
    • Public Notices
    • News and Updates
  • ContributeExpand
    • Report an Observation
    • Add a Photograph or Image
    • Post an Event
    • Post an Opportunity
    • Add a Reference
    • Add a New Species
    • Report a Correction
  • AboutExpand
    • Acknowledgments
    • Data Sensitivity Policy
    • Citation and Licensing
  • ContactExpand
    • Data Requests
Cave Biology Data Portal
Subterranean biodiversity of North America and around the globe
AnimaliaChordataTeleosteiCentrarchiformesCentrarchidaeMicropterus

Spotted Bass
Micropterus punctulatus (Rafinesque, 1819)

Taxonomy

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Teleostei
Order Centrarchiformes
Family Centrarchidae
Genus Micropterus
Species Micropterus punctulatus (Rafinesque, 1819)

Description

Diagnostic characters

Ecological class
Stygoxene
Realm
Aquatic

Distribution

Range

Known from one county in Kentucky.

Continent

North America

Country

United States

States and provinces

Kentucky

Counties

Kentucky
Edmonson

Conservation and management

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

EXEWCRENVUNTLC▲

Assessed in 2013.

NatureServe

G5 Secure

G1G2G3G4G5▲

National ranks

United States
N5 Secure

Subnational ranks

West Virginia
S5 Secure
Arkansas
S4 Apparently Secure
Texas
S5 Secure
Arizona
SNA Not Applicable
Pennsylvania
S4 Apparently Secure
Ohio
S4 Apparently Secure
Virginia
S4 Apparently Secure
California
SNA Not Applicable
New Mexico
SNA Not Applicable
Kentucky
S4 Apparently Secure
Kansas
S5 Secure
NE
SNA Not Applicable
Indiana
S5 Secure
Alabama
S5 Secure
North Carolina
S2 Imperiled
Oklahoma
SNR Unranked
Tennessee
S5 Secure
Nevada
SNA Not Applicable
Georgia
S4 Apparently Secure
Louisiana
S5 Secure
Florida
SNR Unranked
Mississippi
S5 Secure
Iowa
SNA Not Applicable
Missouri
SNR Unranked
Illinois
S3 Vulnerable

State and federal status

Not listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

References

  • Pearson, W.D. & Boston, C.H., Jr. 1995. Distribution and status of the northern cavefish, Amblyopsis spelaea. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program,, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. 99 pp.

How to cite this account

Micropterus punctulatus (Rafinesque, 1819). Cave Biology Data Portal, account SP-2653. https://cavebiology.org/species/micropterus-punctulatus/ (accessed 7 September 2026).

Data sources and funding are listed in the Acknowledgments.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report a correction. Accounts are compiled from many sources and corrections from people who know the group are the most useful email we get.

Cave Biology Data Portal

Species accounts, distributions, and conservation status for the subterranean fauna of North America and around the globe, with resources for the cave and karst research community.

Text and data CC BY 4.0. Images all rights reserved unless stated.

Explore

  • Browse
  • Taxonomy

Resources

  • Funding
  • Employment
  • Contribute

About this site

  • About Us
  • Acknowledgments
  • Contact Us
  • Data Sensitivity Policy
  • Citation and Licensing
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Explore
    • Species
    • Taxonomy
    • States and Provinces
    • Karst Regions
    • Caves You Can Visit
  • Resources
    • Funding Opportunities
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Meeting and Events
    • Public Notices
    • News and Updates
  • Contribute
    • Report an Observation
    • Add a Photograph or Image
    • Post an Event
    • Post an Opportunity
    • Add a Reference
    • Add a New Species
    • Report a Correction
  • About
    • Acknowledgments
    • Data Sensitivity Policy
    • Citation and Licensing
  • Contact
    • Data Requests