Georgia rivers home to 2 newly named black bass species

Anglers are known for embellishing the details of their conquests, rarely letting reality get in the way of a good yarn.

But in Georgia’s case, decades of fish stories — along with years of genetic analysis — have helped scientists finally determine that two types of black bass long known to exist in Peach State waterways are, in fact, distinct species. The designation is likely to excite those eager to reel one in and should help habitat conservation efforts, experts say.

The new species are Micropterus calliurus , known informally as Altamaha bass and Micropterus pucpuggy , or Bartram’s bass.

Altamaha bass are found in the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers in northeast Georgia’s Altamaha River Basin, and the headwaters of the Ogeechee River. Bartram’s bass occur in the upper Savannah R