European perch

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European perch
Perca fluviatilis2.jpg
Barsche im See (Jungfische).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Genus: Perca
Species:
P. fluviatilis
Binomial name
Perca fluviatilis
Perca fluviatilis distribution map.png
Distribution:
  native range
   introduced range
Synonyms [2]

The European perch (Perca fluviatilis), also known as the common perch, redfin perch, big-scaled redfin, English perch, Euro perch, Eurasian perch, Eurasian river perch, Hatch, poor man's rockfish or in Anglophone parts of Europe, simply the perch, is a predatory freshwater fish native to Europe and North Asia. It is the type species of the genus Perca .

Contents

The perch is a popular game fish for recreational anglers, and has been widely introduced beyond its native Eurasian habitats into Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Known locally simply as "redfins", they have caused substantial damage to native fish populations in Australia and have been proclaimed a noxious species in New South Wales. [3]

Taxonomy

The first scientific description of the river perch was made by Peter Artedi in 1730. He defined the basic morphological signs of this species after studying perch from Swedish lakes. Artedi described its features, counting the fin rays scales and vertebrae of the typical perch. [4]

In 1758, Carl Linnaeus named it Perca fluviatilis. [5] His description was based on Artedi's research. [4]

Because of their similar appearance and ability to cross-breed, the yellow perch (Perca flavescens) has sometimes been classified as a subspecies of the European perch, in which case its trinomial name would be Perca fluviatilis flavescens. [6]

Description

Perca fluviatilis 1879.jpg

European perch are greenish with red pelvic, anal and caudal fins. They have five to eight dark vertical bars on their sides. [2] [7] When the perch grows larger, a hump grows between its head and dorsal fin. [8]

European perch can vary greatly in size between bodies of water. They can live for up to 22 years, and older perch are often much larger than average; the maximum recorded length is 60 cm (24 in). The British record is 2.8 kg (6 lb 2 oz), but they grow larger in mainland Europe than in Britain. As of May 2016, the official all tackle world record recognised by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) stands at 2.9 kg (6 lb 6 oz) for a Finnish fish caught September 4, 2010. [9] In January 2010 a perch with a weight of 3.75 kg (8 lb 4 oz) was caught in the river Meuse, Netherlands. [10] Due to the low salinity levels of the Baltic Sea, especially around the Finnish archipelago and Bothnian Sea, many freshwater fish live and thrive there. Perch especially are in abundance and grow to a considerable size due to the diet of Baltic herring.

Distribution and habitat

The range of the European perch covers fresh water basins all over Europe, excluding the Iberian peninsula. Their range is known to reach the Kolyma River in Siberia to the east. [2] It is also common in some of the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. [11]

The European perch lives in slow-flowing rivers, deep lakes and ponds. It tends to avoid cold or fast-flowing waters but some specimens penetrate waters of these type, although they do not breed in this habitat. [11] They are most abundant in relatively shallow lakes and lakes with deep light penetration, and less abundant in deep lakes and those with low light penetration. [12]

Introduction outside Europe

European perch has been widely introduced, with reported adverse ecological impact after introduction. [2] In Australia, the species is implicated in the decline of the now-endangered native fish, the Macquarie perch. [13]

Behaviour and reproduction

The European perch is carnivorous, with juveniles feeding on zooplankton, bottom invertebrate fauna and other perch fry, while adults feed on both invertebrates and fish, mainly sticklebacks, perch, roach and minnows. [11] Perch start eating other fish when they become fingerlings at a size of around 120 mm (4.7 in). [1]

Male perch become sexually mature at between one and two years of age, females between two and four. [1] In the Northern Hemisphere they spawn between February and July. [11] [2] Males reach spawning areas ahead of females, and court mates by chasing through underwater vegetation. During reproduction, the female lays a white ribbon of eggs up to one meter long, which is deposited on water plants or on the branches of trees or shrubs immersed in the water. [2] There has been speculation, but only anecdotal evidence, that eggs stick to the legs of wading birds and are then transferred to other waters. [14]

The eggs hatch after a period of 8 to 16 days. The larvae are 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long on hatching, and live in open water where they feed on plankton. Juveniles migrate to areas nearer the shore and bottom during their first summer. [2]

Diseases and parasites

Cucullanus elegans is a species of parasitic nematode. It is an endoparasite of the European perch. [15] Juvenile perch are commonly infected by Camallanus lacustris (Nematoda), Proteocephalus percae , Bothriocephalus claviceps , Glanitaenia osculata , Triaenophorus nodulosus (all Cestoda) and Acanthocephalus lucii (Acanthocephala). [16]

Predators

The European perch is a frequent prey of many fish-eating predators such as the Western osprey (Pandion haliaetus), [17] great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) [18] [19] and common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), [20] [21] and it is an important item in the diet of the globally threatened Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus). [22] Other non-avian predators include the northern pike (Esox lucius) and the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). [23]

Relationship with humans

Fishing

Low-energy X-rays used for quality control of perch fingerlings at a Swiss fish farm Mastography of perch (Perca fluviatilis) fingerlings for quality control at Valperca.jpg
Low-energy X-rays used for quality control of perch fingerlings at a Swiss fish farm
Perch dish Perch dish.jpg
Perch dish

European perch is fished for food and as game. [11] Its flesh is described as good eating, with a white, firm, flaky texture and well flavoured. [24] According to FAO statistics, 28,920 tonnes were caught in 2013. Largest perch fishing countries were Russia, (15,242 tonnes), Finland (7,666 tonnes), Estonia (2,144 t), Poland (1,121 t) and Kazakhstan (1,103 t). [11]

Baits for perch include baitfishes (e.g. minnows, goldfish), weather loaches, pieces of raw squid or pieces of raw fish (mackerel, bluey, jack mackerel, sardine), or brandling, red, marsh, and lob worms, maggots, shrimp ( Caridina , Neocaridina , Palaemon , Macrobrachium ) and peeled crayfish tails. The tackles needed are fine but strong.

Artificial lures are also effective, particularly for medium-sized perch. It is possible to fly fish for perch using artificial flies tied for the purpose. Often, the flies required are "streamers" or bait-fish imitations and use flash, colour and movement to entice a take from the perch. [25]

Perch in culture

Emblem of Bad Buchau Wappen Bad Buchau.svg
Emblem of Bad Buchau

The European perch is Finland's national fish. [26]

It is also pictured in emblems of several European towns and municipalities, such as Bad Buchau, Gröningen and Schönberg, Plön.

The raw fish item in the game Factorio is a plush toy of the European perch. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perch</span> Genus of fishes

Perch is a common name for freshwater fish from the genus Perca, which belongs to the family Percidae of the large order Perciformes. The name comes from Greek: πέρκη, romanized: perke, meaning the type species of this genus, the European perch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The common kingfisher, also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cormorant</span> Family of aquatic birds

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of approximately 40 species of aquatic birds commonly known as cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed, but in 2021 the International Ornithologists' Union (IOU) adopted a consensus taxonomy of seven genera. The great cormorant and the common shag are the only two species of the family commonly encountered in Britain and Ireland and "cormorant" and "shag" appellations have been later assigned to different species in the family somewhat haphazardly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great cormorant</span> Species of bird

The great cormorant, known as the black shag or kawau in New Zealand, formerly also known as the great black cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the black cormorant in Australia, and the large cormorant in India, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds. The genus name is Latinised Ancient Greek, from φαλακρός and κόραξ, and carbo is Latin for "charcoal".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European shag</span> Species of bird

The European shag or common shag is a species of cormorant. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Gulosus. It breeds around the rocky coasts of western and southern Europe, southwest Asia and north Africa, mainly wintering in its breeding range except for the northernmost birds. In Britain this seabird is usually referred to as simply the shag. The scientific genus name derives from the Latin for glutton. The species name aristotelis commemorates the Greek philosopher Aristotle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruffe</span> Species of fish

The ruffe, also known as the Eurasian ruffe or pope, is a freshwater fish found in temperate regions of Europe and northern Asia. It has been introduced into the Great Lakes of North America, reportedly with unfortunate results, as it is invasive and is reproducing faster than other species. Its common names are ambiguous – "ruffe" may refer to any local member of its genus Gymnocephalus, which as a whole is native to Eurasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy cormorant</span> Species of bird

The pygmy cormorant is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae (cormorant) family of seabirds. It breeds in south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia. It is partially migratory, with northern populations wintering further south, mostly within its breeding range. It is a rare migrant to western Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panfish</span> Pan-sized freshwater fish

The word panfish, also spelled pan-fish or pan fish, is an American English term describing any edible freshwater fish that usually do not outgrow the size of an average frying pan. It is also commonly used by recreational anglers to refer to any small catch that can fit wholly into a pan but still large enough to be legal. The fish species that match this definition and usage vary according to geography. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term was first recorded in 1796 in American Cookery, the first known cookbook written by an American author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zander</span> Species of fish

The zander, sander or pikeperch, is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Percidae, which also includes perch, ruffe and darter. It is found in freshwater and brackish habitats in western Eurasia. It is a popular game fish and has been introduced to a variety of localities outside its native range. It is the type species of the genus Sander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow perch</span> Species of freshwater fish

The yellow perch, commonly referred to as perch, striped perch or preacher is a freshwater perciform fish native to much of North America. The yellow perch was described in 1814 by Samuel Latham Mitchill from New York. It is closely related, and morphologically similar to the European perch ; and is sometimes considered a subspecies of its European counterpart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurasian otter</span> Species of carnivore

The Eurasian otter, also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and Maghreb. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. The Eurasian otter has a diet mainly of fish, and is strongly territorial. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others.

Perch may refer to:

<i>Coregonus artedi</i> Species of fish

Coregonus artedi, commonly known as the cisco, is a North American species of freshwater whitefish in the family Salmonidae. The number of species and definition of species limits in North American ciscoes is a matter of debate. Accordingly, Coregonus artedi may refer either in a narrow sense to one of the several types of cisco found e.g. in the Great Lakes, or in a broad sense to the complex of all ciscoes in continental North American lakes, Coregonus artedi sensu lato.

This is a list of the fauna of Finland. Finland borders Sweden to the west, Russia to the east, and Norway to the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland, allowing an ecological mix. Finland contains many species of mammals, birds, and fish, but only a few reptiles and amphibians. This article discusses all the vertebrate animals which can be found on Finland itself, not the oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balkhash perch</span> Species of fish

The Balkhash perch is a species of perch endemic to the Lake Balkhash and Lake Alakol watershed system, which lies mainly in Kazakhstan. It is similar to the other two species of perch, and grows to a comparable size, but has a slimmer build and is lighter in colour.

<i>Gobio gobio</i> Species of fish

Gobio gobio, or the gudgeon, is a species of fish in the family Cyprinidae. This small fish is widely distributed in fresh-water streams and lakes across central and temperate Eurasia.

Harp Lake is an oligotrophic, single-basin lake in Ontario, Canada. The lake covers over 710,000 m2 and has a depth of 37.5 m. Harp Lake does have dimitic stratification and is a temperate lake. Additionally, Harp Lake does not have anaerobic conditions in the water column because it is a relatively deep lake. The water in Harp Lake has a pH of 6.3. This pH is caused by the presence of acids and the lack of alkaline bases.[3] Slightly acidic lakes normally have a granite or siliceous bedrock and they are poorly buffered. Also, these lakes commonly have calcium-poor soils or thin soils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Murrough Wetlands</span> Complex of wetlands in County Wicklow, Ireland

The Murrough Wetlands are a 15-kilometre (9.32 mi) long complex of coastal wetlands in County Wicklow, Ireland. The main wetland is centred around Broad Lough immediately north of Wicklow town. Broad Lough is a large estuarine lake that is cut off from the Irish sea by a long, thin shingle ridge. Smaller, disconnected wetland areas such as the East Coast Nature Reserve and the Kicoole Marshes are also included in the complex. The Murrough Wetlands are the most extensive wetland area on the east coast of Ireland, and are an EU-designated Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.

References

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