(See Fish Gallery Below) The perch family is one of the most diverse groups represented by153 species in North America; about 48 species live in Virginia's waters. The yellow perch, walleye, and sauger are the major sport and food fish in this family. The remaining 150 species of small colorful darters occupy streams and lakes throughout the country. Some darters are drab, but many, and especially males in the breeding season are as colorful as tropical reef fishes. Darters, such as the snail darter, are very specialized, live in a variety of habitats, and delight ichthyologists because of their diversity and beauty. Darters, as the name implies, dart about on the bottom primarily because they lack a swim bladder Percids have two dorsal fins, the first with spines and the second with soft rays, separate or slightly joined. Yellow perch and walleye (and it's cousin the sauger) are cool water (70-80 F) fish that thrive in the northern U.S.,and Canada, especially the Great Lakes, large reservoirs, and big rivers. These species school in open water and near the bottom. They are spring broadcast spawners. Perch eggs are extruded in a unique accordion-like gelatinous egg mass up to 2 feet in length over which entwines in aquatic vegetation, while walleye and sauger boadcast their eggs over gravel. Adults feed voraciously on small fish and invertebrates, principally at sunrise and sunset. Yellow perch and walleye are a highly prefered sport and food fish in Canada and the Great Lakes region. They have a mild-flavored white flesh and command high prices in food markets and restaurants. Attempts at farming these species have met with limited success.