FLORIDA — Florida’s most popular freshwater game fish has a new name, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Wednesday.

What was known as the largemouth bass in most of Florida (except the western Panhandle), is now called the Florida bass. The American Fisheries Society established the Florida bass as a separate species from the largemouth bass.

According to a recent study by Yale University, the use of advanced genetic analysis determined the Florida bass to be its own species. The research also identified the range of Florida bass to be larger than once believed, including in parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

FWC said understanding and conserving fish species is crucial for sustainable recreational fishing and biodiversity population.

While the name change will affect how the fish is referred to in regulations and other communications, FWC said it will not affect anglers fishing for the iconic freshwater sport fish.

The scientific names of these two bass also changed. Largemouth bass, previously Micropterus salmoides, is now the scientific name for Florida bass. Largemouth bass are now Micropterus nigricans.

For more information on the Florida bass, visit myfwc.com.