Perch
True perch are freshwater fish of the genus Perca.
The name "perch" comes from the Greek word *perke*, which originally referred to the European perch (*Perca fluviatilis*). Today, it's a common name for freshwater fish in the genus *Perca*, part of the family Percidae within the order Perciformes. Many other freshwater game fish look similar to perch but belong to different genera. For a fish to be a true perch, it must be a member of the family Percidae. Even the red drum, a saltwater fish from a different order (Acanthuriformes), is sometimes called "red perch," even though true perch are freshwater species. The oldest known fossil remains of *Perca* come from the Middle Miocene of Ukraine.
Most experts recognize three species in the perch genus. The European perch (*P. fluviatilis*) lives mainly in Europe, but some are found in South Africa and as far east as Australia. It is greenish with dark vertical bars on its sides and red or orange fin tips. Introduced to New Zealand and Australia, it is called redfin perch or English perch there. In Australia, larger specimens have been bred, but the species rarely exceeds 2.7 kg (6 lb). The Balkhash perch (*P. schrenkii*) is found in Kazakhstan (in Lake Balkhash and Lake Alakol), Uzbekistan, and China. Its dorsal side is dark gray or black, while its belly is lighter silver or sometimes green. It also has vertical bars like the other perches. Introduced into the Nuru and Chu river basins in the late 20th century, it thrived there, making it rarer in Lake Balkhash. It weighs about 1.5 kg (3 lb 5 oz). The yellow perch (*P. flavescens*) is smaller and paler than the European perch but otherwise nearly identical. Found in North America, it is sometimes called lake perch in northern areas. Prized for eating, it is often raised in hatcheries and introduced to non-native waters. It usually reaches about 38 cm (15 in) and 1 kg (2 lb 3 oz).
Perch have a long, round body for fast swimming. Their scales are rough, or ctenoid. They have paired pectoral and pelvic fins, plus two dorsal fins—the first spiny, the second soft—which may be separate or joined. The head includes a skull of loosely connected bones, eyes, mouth, an operculum, gills, and a pair of nostrils not connected to the oral cavity. Small brush-like teeth line the jaws and roof of the mouth. Gills, under the operculum on each side, extract oxygen and expel carbon dioxide; they have gill rakers inside the mou
- Scientific classification
- Genus Perca, family Percidae, order Perciformes
- Number of recognized species
- Three (European, Balkhash, yellow)
- Earliest fossil remains
- Middle Miocene of Ukraine
- Typical size caught
- Around 30 cm (1 ft) and 450 g (1 lb) or less
- Record weight (Sweden)
- 3.15 kg (6 lb 15 oz) in 1985
- Habitat
- Freshwater ponds, lakes, streams, rivers worldwide
Lore & Background
Most authorities recognize three species within the perch genus: the European perch (P. fluviatilis), primarily found in Europe but also introduced in New Zealand and Australia; the Balkhash perch (P. schrenkii), found in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China; and the yellow perch (P. flavescens), found in North America. The European perch is typically greenish with dark vertical bars and red or orange fin tips, while the Balkhash perch has a dark gray/black dorsal side and lighter ventral areas. The yellow perch is smaller and paler than the European perch but otherwise nearly identical.
Perch have a long and round body shape for fast swimming, with ctenoid scales, paired pectoral and pelvic fins, and two dorsal fins. Their internal anatomy includes a two-chambered heart, a swim bladder for buoyancy, and reproductive organs consisting of either testes or ovaries. Perch are carnivores, choosing waters where smaller fish, shellfish, zooplankton, and insect larvae are abundant. They spawn in spring, using vegetation to conceal their eggs.
Reader's Guide
Perch are a popular sport fish species, known for putting up a fight and being good for eating. They can be caught with various methods including float fishing, lure fishing, ledgering, and fly fishing. The record weights vary by country: 2.81 kg in Britain, 3.05 kg in the Netherlands, 2.83 kg in America, and 3.15 kg in Sweden. Most perch caught are around 30 cm and 450 g or less, with anything over 40 cm and 900 g considered a prize catch. The yellow perch is prized for its food quality and has often been raised in hatcheries and introduced into areas where it is not native. The introduction of Balkhash perch into the Nuru and Chu rivers was successful, but this has made the population in Lake Balkhash rarer. The earliest fossil remains of Perca are known from the Middle Miocene of Ukraine, indicating the genus has a long evolutionary history.
Did You Know?
- The name 'perch' comes from Greek πέρκη (perke), referring to the European perch.
- The exclusively saltwater-dwelling red drum is often called 'red perch', but true perch are freshwater species.
- Perch have a two-chambered heart consisting of four compartments: sinus venous, one atrium, one ventricle, and conus.
- The swim bladder of perch can vary from 12% to 25% oxygen and 1.4% to 2.9% carbon dioxide gas.
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