Perch
Perch are small freshwater fish known for their distinctive greenish-yellow bodies that feature vertical dark stripes. They are native to Europe and northern Asia, with two main species: the common or European perch and the yellow perch, found in lakes, ponds, canals, and slow-moving rivers. These fish prefer cool, clean waters with sandy or rocky bottoms and are typically sedentary, forming schools that can include various genders and sizes. Perch have a notable appearance, characterized by deep, slender bodies, two dorsal fins, and brightly colored pelvic and tail fins. As carnivorous hunters, they primarily feed on small fish, invertebrates, and carrion, with feeding behavior influenced by water clarity and light conditions. Spawning occurs in spring, where females can lay up to 300,000 eggs, though survival rates for the young are low due to predation and environmental factors. Perch reach maturity in three to four years and have a life span of five to eleven years. Due to their popularity as a sport fish, there are concerns about their introduction to non-native habitats, as they may threaten local biodiversity.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Perch
Perch are small freshwater fish which have been popular as sources of food among sport fishermen for many years. They are recognizable by their greenish-yellow bodies which are striped vertically with five to eight dark bands. Perch are native to Europe and northern Asia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Osteichthyes
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Genus: Perca
Species: Fluviatilis (common, or European)
The two perch species are called the common, or European perch, and the yellow, or North American perch. They are freshwater species inhabiting lakes, ponds, canals, and slow-moving rivers. Common perch may also live in brackish waters along the Baltic Sea. Cool, clean waters with rocky or sandy bottoms are particularly likely to attract perch. Perch are sedentary, which means they remain in one place year round instead of migrating between the seasons. Perch generally live in groups called schools. These schools may contain all males, all females, or contain both genders, and their members may be the same age and size. Schools remain in the deep water during the day and enter shallow water at night.
Common perch have scaly skin, dark green on their backs and upper sides, and pale yellow on their lower sides, with five dark bands running vertically on their sides. Their bellies are white. Yellow perch are very similar in color but, as their name suggests, are more yellow than green. Members of this species have between six and eight dark bands on their sides.
Both species have two dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is dark and spiny, and the second is light and soft-rayed. Two small, spiny pectoral fins sit behind each fish's head on the side of its body. The two pelvic, or belly, fins and the two spiny anal, or rear, fins are orange or red, as are their forked caudal, or tail, fins.
Perch have deep, slender bodies with arched backs. Yellow perch range between four and twelve inches (ten and thirty centimeters) in length but usually measure near the lower end of this range. They average four to twelve ounces (110 to 335 grams) in weight. Some may weigh one to two pounds (1/2 to one kilogram), and one record catch weighed four pounds (two kilograms). Common perch are generally longer than the yellow perch, measuring near the upper end of the range and possibly a little longer. They may weigh as much as six pounds (2 1/2 to three kilograms).
Perch are carnivorous, or meat eating. They are visual hunters, which means they need clear water and good light. When either conditions are not good, the rate of feeding decreases. When Perch are young they hide in the weeds and eat small invertebrates, or creatures without backbones, such as aquatic insects, crustaceans, and other baby fish. As they grow, they prey on small fish and larger invertebrates. The largest perch are not able to swim as fast as young perch, and so they eat insects, crustaceans, and carrion, or dead animal flesh.
Each spring males and females gather at night among weeds where the water is several feet (a couple of meters) deep and between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (seven and ten degrees Celsius). They then spawn, which means the females release eggs which the males fertilize. Each female may lay 10,000 to 300,000 eggs depending on her age and size. The eggs are in sticky, ribbon-like masses. After two to three weeks, about one half of the eggs hatch, while the rest die or are eaten by predators. The adults provide no care or protection for the young, which quickly swim into the weeds to hide from predatory fish, like walleye. Other causes of death among perch are disease, parasites, and fishing by humans.
Perch become adults after three to four years and may live to be five to eleven years old, depending on where they live.
Because of perch's popularity as a game fish, many nations are concerned they may be introduced outside of their native areas. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has conducted impact studies if the perch is ever introduced to the Great Lakes region of the United States. Analysis suggests the perch could out-compete many native species with negative impacts.
Similar species:
- Balkhash perch(Perca schrenkii)
- Yellow perch(Perca flavescens)
Bibliography
“European Perch.” Animalia, 2024, www.animalia.bio/european-perch. Accessed 12 Apr. 2024.
Perch Fish.” A-Z Animals, 3 Nov. 2022, a-z-animals.com/animals/perch-fish. Accessed 12 Apr. 2024.
“Perca Fluviatilis.” NOAA, 2024, nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatlakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species‗ID=3636&Potential=Y&Type=2. Accessed 12 Apr. 2024.