Considered a synonym of Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, 1819
- La Rivers, I.. 1994. "Fishes and fisheries of Nevada". University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada. 1-782 (ffm04574)
Original description as Icthelis melanops:
- Rafinesque, Constantine Samuel. 1820. "Ichthyologia Ohiensis [Part 2]". Western Revue and Miscellaneous Magazine. 1(6):361-377 (ffm00280)