The largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) is a carnivorousfreshwaterray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico.[4][5][3] It is known by a variety of regional names, such as the widemouth bass, bigmouth bass, black bass, bucketmouth, largie, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, bucketmouth bass, green trout, Gilsdorf bass, Oswego bass, LMB, and southern largemouth and northern largemouth.[6]
The largemouth bass, as it is known today, was first described by French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1828. A recent study[7] concluded that the correct scientific name for the Florida bass is Micropterus salmoides, while the largemouth bass is Micropterus nigricans.[7] It is the largest species of the black bass, with a maximum recorded length of 29.5 inches (75 cm) and an unofficial weight of 25 pounds 1 ounce (11.4 kg).
^"State Freshwater Fish", Florida State Symbols, Florida Department of State, retrieved May 8, 2019
^"Official Alabama Fresh Water Fish". Official Symbols and Emblems of Alabama. Alabama Department of Archives and History. November 17, 2003. Retrieved May 7, 2019.