The Virtual Aquarium of Virginia Tech--Perches and Darters

Logperch, Percina caprodes

 

Physical Description: 
ï¿½	Elongate body
ï¿½	Long, cone-shaped snout
ï¿½	Snout tip bulbous or blunt
ï¿½	Two dorsal fins
ï¿½	Large eye, near top of head
ï¿½	Upper jaw longer than lower jaw, making mouth inferior
ï¿½	Very slight fork in tail fin
ï¿½	Light-colored body
ï¿½	Dark, vertical bars on side, similar to zebra stripes
ï¿½	Black spot at base of tail fin
ï¿½	Faint black marks on fins

Similar species: 
ï¿½	Blotchside logperch (Percina burtoni)

Mean body size:
ï¿½	Adults are 70-120 mm standard length 

Habitat:
ï¿½	Warm streams and rivers, lakes, and reservoirs over gravel and rubble

Distribution in VA:
ï¿½	Found in the Big Sandy, Tennessee, and New drainages 

Food Habits:  
ï¿½	Insects, microcrustaceans, other invertebrates, and fish eggs 

Reproductive Habits: 
ï¿½	Mature by age 2 or 3
ï¿½	Spawning occurs from April to May in water 10-15ï¿½C
ï¿½	Spawn on sand or gravel in swift currents of streams and shores of lakes
ï¿½	Fecundity is 100-3,100 eggs per female 

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
ï¿½	Flip stones over with snout to obtain food
ï¿½	Population has declined due to habitat degradation
ï¿½	Extirpated from Potomac drainage

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

If you are seeking more information for the above species click on the VAFWIS logo (The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service):