Yellow Perch,  Perca flavescens

 

Physical Description: 
�	Elongate, nearly round body
�	Two dorsal fins, almost connected
�	Large eye
�	Terminal mouth
�	Small teeth on the jaws
�	Smallish, somewhat forked tail fin
�	Pelvic fin larger than pectoral fin
�	Dark, vertical bars on the side
�	Greenish-gold body with yellow iridescence
�	First dorsal fin gray-black

Similar species: 
�	Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis)

Mean body size:
�	Adults are 130-300 mm total length 

Habitat:
�	Pools and backwaters in creeks, streams, and rivers, and ponds and lakes
�	Sometimes forms schools

Distribution in VA:
�	Native to the Atlantic slope drainages
�	Introduced to the New drainage

Food Habits:  
�	Worms, crustaceans, insects, mollusks, and fish
�	Feed during the day and throughout winter

Reproductive Habits: 
�	Mature at ages 1-3
�	Spawning occurs around late winter to early summer in water 2-18.6�C
�	Occurs at night over vegetation and sandy or rocky bottoms
�	Eggs produced in a gelatinous, accordion-like ribbon
�	Fecundity is about 2,000-157,600 eggs per female 

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
�	Good to eat
�	Important commercial foodfish in the Great Lakes region

References:       

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

Yellow Perch Dusky Darter Sharpnose Darter Blotchside Logperch Roanoke Logperch Logperch Stripeback Darter Appalachia Darter Shield Darter Roanoke Darter Gilt Darter Tangerine Darter Channel Darter Ashy Darter Swannanoa Darter Kanawha Darter Candy Darter Greenside Darter Greenside Darter Banded Darter Snubnose Darter Speckled Darter Longfin Darter Riverweed Darter Johnny Darter Glassy Darter Bluebreast Darter Redline Darter Tippecanoe Darter Sharphead Darter Wounded Darter Fantail Darter Sawcheek Darter Carolina Darter Rainbow Darter Swamp Darter Blueside Darter Spotted Darter Tessellated Darter Finescale Saddled Dart. Variegate Darter Blackside Darter Stripeback Darter Walleye Continue Browsing Families..... Petromyzontidae, Lampreys Polyodontidae, Paddlefish Acipenseridae, Sturgeons Lepisosteidae, Gars Amiidae, Bowfins Anguillidae, Freshwater Eels Amblyopsidae, Cavefishes Ictaluridae, Catfish Percopsidae, Trout-Perches Salmonidae, Trouts Clupeidae, Herrings Esocidae, Pikes Aphredoderidae, Pirate Perches Umbridae, Mudminnows Fundulidae, Killifishes Poeciliidae, Livebearers Cyprinidae, Minnows Catostomidae, Suckers Gasterosteidae, Sticklebacks Atherinidae, Silversides Cottidae, Sculpins Sciaenidae, Drums Percidae, Perches Moronidae, Striped Basses Centrarchidae, Sunfishes