Scientific Name
Perca flavescens

Common Name
American yellow perch

Biology
Inhabits lakes, ponds, pools of creeks, and rivers. Also found in brackish water and in salt lakes. Most commonly found in clear water near vegetation; tends to shoal near the shore during spring (Ref. 9988, 10294). Feeds on immature insects, larger invertebrates, fishes and fish eggs during the day. Preyed upon by fishes and birds (Ref. 1998). Spawns between February and July in the northern hemisphere and between August and October in the southern hemisphere (Ref. 10999). Neither anterolateral glandular groove nor venom gland is present (Ref. 57406). Marketed fresh or frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled or baked (Ref. 9988).

Classification

Classified By

Mitchill, 1814

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Perches (Percidae)

Distribution

Region

North America

Distribution

North America: Atlantic, Arctic, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River basins from Nova Scotia and Quebec west to Great Slave Lake in Northwest Territories in Canada, and south to Ohio, Illinois and Nebraska in the USA; south in Atlantic drainages to Santee River in South Carolina, USA.

Range

64°N - 33°N

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

30 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

56 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 56 m (Ref. 11004), usually ? - 9 m (Ref. 1998)

Trophic Level

3.7 s.e. 0.62 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

50.0 cm

Common Length

19.1 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.17-0.19; tmax=11)

Threat To Humans

Harmless (Ref. 57406)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated