Dan, They are a seperate species all on their own. They are in a lot of lakes, I remember catching them in Kentucky lake even back in the late 70s and early 80s. They called them "sunshine bass" down there. Believe it or not, they are one fine eating fish. I have a friend that targets them and eats them and claims they are better to eat then almost any other panfish. Thanks for the post and good fishin' to you!