Where do LM/SM bass live?

[Slyster]

Just curious.. are there LM or SM bass in Europe? Scandinavia? England? Or is this species a North American thing.

I know they have Peacock bass in Central America.. how about LM/SM in Africa? Or southern (cooler areas) of South America? Australia?

[JollyT]

Peacock Bass aren't really bass. They are a cichlid. More closely related to an Oscar, Jack Dempsey or other tropical fish you'll see in someones aquarium.

An an aquarium forum I also read, someone was asking, "Are sunfish cichlids?" I said no, they are little mean bass!!

[JollyT]

Did some quick looking on fishbase. Smallmouth extend as far south as northern Alabama. They have been introduced into Belgium, Germany, and South Africa at least.

Largemouth have been introduced into many European and African countries.

Both of these fish have caused enviromental damage there similar to the problems we have with invasive species here.

Both centarchidae (sunfishes) and cichlidae (cichlids) are both in the order Perchiformes, so Peacock Bass and Largemouth Bass are distant cousins. (I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know!!!)