# European perch

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{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author=Freyhof, J. |year=2024 |title=''Perca fluviatilis'' |volume=2024 |article-number=e.T16580A58297645 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T16580A58297645.en |access-date=14 January 2026}}</ref>
| fossil_range = 3.6-0 Ma {{Fossil range|Piacenzian|Present}}
| image = Perca fluviatilis - Perche commune - European perch Cropped.jpg
| image2 = Barsche im See (Jungfische).jpg
| taxon = Perca fluviatilis
| authority = [Linnaeus](/source/Linnaeus), [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae)
| synonyms = *''Perca vulgaris'' <small>[Schaeffer](/source/Jacob_Christian_Sch%C3%A4ffer), 1761</small>
*''Perca vulgaris'' <small>[Schrank](/source/Franz_von_Paula_Schrank), 1792</small>
*''Perca italica'' <small>[Cuvier](/source/Georges_Cuvier), 1828</small>
*''Perca vulgaris'' <small>[Fitzinger](/source/Leopold_Fitzinger), 1832</small>
*''Perca helvetica'' <small>[Gronow](/source/Laurens_Theodorus_Gronovius), 1854</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=Fishbase>{{FishBase|Perca|fluviatilis|month=December|year=2019}}</ref>
| range_map = Perca fluviatilis distribution map.png
| range_map_caption = Distribution: {{leftlegend|#FF0000|native range|outline=gray}}{{leftlegend|#00FF00|[introduced](/source/Introduced_species) range|outline=gray}}
}}

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](/source/rockfish)''' or in [Anglophone](/source/Anglophone) parts of Europe, simply the '''perch''', is a [predatory](/source/predatory_fish) [freshwater fish](/source/freshwater_fish) native to [Europe](/source/Europe) and [North Asia](/source/North_Asia). It is the [type species](/source/type_species) of the [genus](/source/genus) ''[Perca](/source/Perch)''.

The perch is a popular predatory [game fish](/source/game_fish) for [recreational](/source/recreational_fishing) [anglers](/source/angling), and has been widely [introduced](/source/introduced_species) beyond its native Eurasian habitats into [Australia](/source/Australia), [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) and [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). Known locally simply as "redfin", they have caused substantial damage to native fish populations in Australia and have been proclaimed a noxious species in [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/pests-diseases/freshwater-pests/species/redfin-perch |title=Redfin perch |publisher=NSW Government |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-date=12 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212181514/http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/pests-diseases/freshwater-pests/species/redfin-perch }}</ref>

== Taxonomy ==
The first [scientific description](/source/Species_description) of the river perch was made by [Peter Artedi](/source/Peter_Artedi) in 1730. He defined the basic morphological signs of this species after studying perch from [Swedish](/source/Sweden) lakes. Artedi described its features, counting the fins, rays, scales, and vertebrae of the typical perch.<ref name=Thorpe>{{cite book | author = John Thorpe | year = 1977 | title = Synopsis of the biological data on the ''Perca fluviatilis'' Linnaeus, 1758 and ''Perca flavescens'' Mitchill, 1814 | publisher = FAO | isbn = 92-5-100504-4 | url = https://www.fao.org/3/ap921e/ap921e.pdf}}</ref>

In 1758, [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) named it ''Perca fluviatilis''.<ref name=CofF>{{Cof record | spid=19543 | title = ''Perca fluviatilis'' | access-date = 12 September 2020}}</ref> His description was based on Artedi's research.<ref name=Thorpe/>

Because of their similar appearance and ability to cross-breed, the [yellow perch](/source/yellow_perch) (''Perca flavescens'') has sometimes been classified as a [subspecies](/source/subspecies) of the European perch, in which case its [trinomial name](/source/Trinomial_nomenclature) would be ''Perca fluviatilis flavescens''.<ref>{{cite WoRMS |id=322958 |title=''Perca fluviatilis flavescens'' (Mitchill, 1814) – unaccepted |author= Bailly, N. |year= 2015 |access-date= 24 January 2016}}</ref>

== Description ==
left|thumb|European perch
European perch are greenish with red pelvic, anal and caudal [fins](/source/fish_anatomy). They have five to eight dark vertical bars on their sides.<ref name=Fishbase/><ref name=ARK>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkive.org/perch/perca-fluviatilis/ |title=Perch (''Perca fluviatilis'') |website=ARKive |publisher=Wildscreen |access-date=25 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202123529/http://www.arkive.org/perch/perca-fluviatilis/ |archive-date=2017-02-02}}</ref> When the perch grows larger, a hump grows between its head and dorsal fin.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/en/kalat/perch |title=Perch |website=Luontoportti |access-date= 25 January 2017}}</ref>

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 {{cvt|60|cm}}.<ref name=Fishbase/> The British record is {{cvt|2.806|kg|lboz}}, 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](/source/International_Game_Fish_Association) (IGFA) stands at {{cvt|2.9|kg|lboz}} for a Finnish fish caught September 4, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://igfa.org/member-services/world-record/common-name/Perch,%20European|title=Perch, European (''Perca fluviatilis'')|series= IGFA World Records Database|publisher=The International Game Fish Association |access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref> In January 2010 a perch with a weight of {{cvt|3.75|kg|lboz}} and a length of {{cvt|58|cm}} was caught in the river [Meuse](/source/Meuse), Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fisch-hitparade.de/hitliste/fangmeldung/stephan-gockel-09-apr-2010 |title=Fischdaten |date=2010 |website=Fisch-Hitparade |access-date=23 January 2017 |language=de}}</ref> Due to the low salinity levels of the [Baltic Sea](/source/Baltic_Sea), especially around the [Finnish archipelago](/source/Finnish_archipelago) and [Bothnian Sea](/source/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](/source/Baltic_herring).

== Distribution and habitat ==
The range of the European perch covers [fresh water](/source/fresh_water) basins all over Europe, excluding the [Iberian Peninsula](/source/Iberian_Peninsula). Their range is known to reach the [Kolyma River](/source/Kolyma_River) in [Siberia](/source/Siberia) to the east.<ref name=Fishbase/> It is also common in some of the brackish waters of the [Baltic Sea](/source/Baltic_Sea).<ref name=FAO/>

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.<ref name=FAO/> 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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Seekell|first1=David A.|last2=Byström|first2=Pär|last3=Karlsson|first3=Jan|date=2018|title=Lake morphometry moderates the relationship between water color and fish biomass in small boreal lakes|journal=Limnology and Oceanography|language=en|volume=63|issue=5|pages=2171–2178|doi=10.1002/lno.10931|s2cid=53998313 |issn=1939-5590|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018LimOc..63.2171S }}</ref>

=== Introduction outside Europe ===
European perch has been widely introduced, with reported adverse ecological impact after introduction.<ref name=Fishbase/> In Australia, the species is implicated in the decline of the now-endangered native fish, the [Macquarie perch](/source/Macquarie_perch).<ref>{{Cite web|title=The feasibility of excluding alien redfin perch from Macquarie perch habitat in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment {{!}} NSW Department of Primary Industries|url=https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/content/research/areas/aquatic-ecosystems/outputs/2010/1678|access-date=2021-01-31|website=www.dpi.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>

== Behaviour and reproduction ==
thumb|1879 illustration
The European perch is carnivorous, with juveniles feeding on [zooplankton](/source/zooplankton), bottom [invertebrate fauna](/source/invertebrate_fauna) and other perch fry, while adults feed on both invertebrates and fish, mainly [stickleback](/source/stickleback)s, [perch](/source/perch), [roach](/source/Rutilus) and [minnow](/source/minnow)s.<ref name=FAO/> Perch start eating other fish when they become [fingerling](/source/fingerling_(fish))s at a size of around {{cvt|120|mm}}.<ref name="iucn"/>
thumb|ribbon of eggs on the aquatic vegetation
Male perch become sexually mature at between one and two years of age, females between two and four.<ref name="iucn"/> In the [Northern Hemisphere](/source/Northern_Hemisphere) they spawn between February and July.<ref name=FAO/><ref name=Fishbase/> 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.<ref name=Fishbase/> There has been speculation, but only anecdotal evidence, that eggs stick to the legs of wading birds and are then transferred to other waters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_there_scientific_proof_that_water_fowl_can_transport_fish_eggs_from_one_water_body_to_an_other |title=Is there (scientific) proof that water fowl can transport fish eggs from one water body to an other? |date=2014 |access-date= 23 January 2017}}</ref>

The eggs hatch after a period of 8 to 16 days. The larvae are {{convert|5|mm|in}} long on hatching, and live in open water where they feed on [plankton](/source/plankton). Juveniles migrate to areas nearer the shore and bottom during their first summer.<ref name=Fishbase/>

=== Diseases and parasites ===
''[Cucullanus elegans](/source/Cucullanus_elegans)'' is a species of parasitic nematode. It is an endoparasite of the European perch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=873902 |title=Cucullanus elegans Rudolphi, 1802 |website=World Register of Marine Species |access-date=24 January 2017 }}</ref> Juvenile perch are commonly infected by ''[Camallanus lacustris](/source/Camallanus_lacustris)'' ([Nematoda](/source/Nematoda)), ''[Proteocephalus percae](/source/Proteocephalus_percae)'', ''[Bothriocephalus claviceps](/source/Bothriocephalus_claviceps)'', ''[Glanitaenia osculata](/source/Glanitaenia_osculata)'', ''[Triaenophorus nodulosus](/source/Triaenophorus_nodulosus)'' (all [Cestoda](/source/Cestoda)) and ''[Acanthocephalus lucii](/source/Acanthocephalus_lucii)'' ([Acanthocephala](/source/Acanthocephala)).<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Kuchta, R.|author2= Čech, M.|author3= Scholz, T.|author4= Soldánová, M.|author5= Levron, C.|author6= Škoríková, B.|title=Endoparasites of European perch ''Perca fluviatilis'' fry: role of spatial segregation|journal=Diseases of Aquatic Organisms|date=2009|volume=86|issue=1|pages=87–91|doi=10.3354/dao02090|pmid=19899354|doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Predators ==
[[File:Schlange frist Fisch.jpg|thumb|Being eaten by a [dice snake](/source/dice_snake).]]
The European perch is a frequent prey of many [fish-eating](/source/piscivore) predators such as the [Western osprey](/source/Western_osprey) (''Pandion haliaetus''),<ref name=SWT>{{cite web |url = https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/scotlands-wildlife/osprey-fact-file/ | title = Osprey Fact File | access-date = 12 September 2020 | publisher = Scottish Wildlife Trust}}</ref> [great cormorant](/source/great_cormorant) (''Phalacrocorax carbo'')<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Čech, M.|author2= Čech, P.|author3= Kubečka, J.|author4= Prchalová, M. |author5= Draštík, V.|title=Size selectivity in summer and winter diets of great cormorant (''Phalacrocorax carbo''): Does it reflect season-dependent difference in foraging efficiency?|journal=Waterbirds|date=2008|volume=31|issue=3|pages=438–447|jstor=25148353|doi=10.1675/1524-4695-31.3.438|s2cid=84199917}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Čech M., Vejřík, L.|title=Winter diet of great cormorant (''Phalacrocorax carbo'') on the River Vltava: estimate of size and species composition and potential for fish stock losses|journal=Folia Zoologica|date=2011|volume=60|issue=2|pages=129–142|doi=10.25225/fozo.v60.i2.a7.2011|s2cid=90464667}}</ref> and [common kingfisher](/source/common_kingfisher) (''Alcedo atthis''),<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Čech M.|author2= Čech P.|title=Non-fish prey in the diet of an exclusive fish-eater: the Common Kingfisher ''Alcedo atthis''|journal=Bird Study|date=2015|volume=62|issue=4|pages=457–465|doi=10.1080/00063657.2015.1073679|s2cid=85632259|doi-access=free|bibcode=2015BirdS..62..457C }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Čech M.|author2= Čech P|title=Effect of brood size on food provisioning rate in Common Kingfisher ''Alcedo atthis''|journal=Ardea|date=2017|volume=105|issue=1|pages=5–17|article-number=arde.v105i1.a3 |doi=10.5253/arde.v105i1.a3|s2cid=90362897}}</ref> and it is an important item in the diet of the globally threatened [Dalmatian pelican](/source/Dalmatian_pelican) (''Pelecanus crispus'').<ref name=Birdlife>{{cite web | url = https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/dalmatian-pelican-pelecanus-crispus/text | title = Dalmatian Pelican ''Pelecanus crispus'' | access-date = 12 September 2020 | publisher = Birdlife}}</ref> Other non-avian predators include the [northern pike](/source/northern_pike) (''Esox lucius'') and the [Eurasian otter](/source/Eurasian_otter) (''Lutra lutra'').<ref name=Kloskowski>{{cite journal | author1 = Kloskowski, Janusz | author2 = Rechulicz, Jacek | author3 = Jarzynowa, Barbara | name-list-style = amp | year = 2013 | title = Resource availability and use by Eurasian otters ''Lutra lutra'' in a heavily modified river-canal system | doi = 10.2981/12-104 | journal = Wildlife Biology | volume = 19 | issue = 4 | pages = 439–451| bibcode = 2013WildB..19..439K | s2cid = 86028541 }}</ref>

== Relationship with humans ==
=== Fishing ===
[[File:Mastography of perch (Perca fluviatilis) fingerlings for quality control at Valperca.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Low-energy [X-ray](/source/X-ray)s used for quality control of perch [fingerlings](/source/Juvenile_fish) at a Swiss fish farm]]
thumb|Perch dish
European perch is fished [for food](/source/fish_as_food) and as [game](/source/game_fish).<ref name=FAO/> Its flesh is described as good eating, with a white, firm, flaky texture and well flavoured.<ref>{{cite news |title=Perch |url=https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marine-environment/species/fish/freshwater/perch |access-date=30 August 2020 |publisher=Scottish Government}}</ref> According to [FAO](/source/Food_and_Agriculture_Organization) statistics, 28,920 tonnes were caught in 2013. Largest perch fishing countries were [Russia](/source/Russia), (15,242 tonnes), [Finland](/source/Finland) (7,666 tonnes), [Estonia](/source/Estonia) (2,144 t), [Poland](/source/Poland) (1,121 t) and [Kazakhstan](/source/Kazakhstan) (1,103 t).<ref name=FAO>{{cite web |url= https://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2298/en |series= List of Species for Fishery Statistics Purposes|title=''Perca fluviatilis'' Linnaeus 1758 |publisher= FAO |access-date=17 October 2015 }}</ref>

Baits for perch include [baitfish](/source/baitfish)es (e.g. [minnow](/source/minnow)s, [goldfish](/source/common_goldfish)), [weather loach](/source/weather_loach)es, pieces of raw [squid](/source/squid) or pieces of raw fish ([mackerel](/source/mackerel), [bluey](/source/Pacific_saury), [jack mackerel](/source/jack_mackerel), [sardine](/source/sardine)), or [brandling](/source/Eisenia_fetida), red, marsh, and [lob worm](/source/lob_worm)s, [maggot](/source/maggot)s, [shrimp](/source/Palaemon_serratus) (''[Caridina](/source/Caridina)'', ''[Neocaridina](/source/Neocaridina)'', ''[Palaemon](/source/Palaemon_(crustacean))'', ''[Macrobrachium](/source/Macrobrachium)'') and peeled [crayfish](/source/Astacus_astacus) tails. The [tackle](/source/fishing_tackle)s needed are fine but strong.

[Artificial lure](/source/Fishing_lure)s are also effective, particularly for medium-sized perch. It is possible to [fly fish](/source/fly_fishing) for perch using [artificial flies](/source/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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blog.fishtec.co.uk/perch-on-the-fly|title=Perch On The Fly|date=2016-11-28|work=Fishtec|access-date=2018-11-12|language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Culinary use ===
The flesh is firm, mild in flavor, and comparable to that of other high-quality white fish.
It is widely consumed in Europe and is considered suitable for frying, grilling, and other preparations.

=== Perch in culture ===
[[File:DEU Bad Buchau COA.svg|thumb|120px|Coat of arms of [Bad Buchau](/source/Bad_Buchau)]]
The European perch is [Finland](/source/Finland)'s national fish.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://finland.fi/life-society/iconic-finnish-nature-symbols-stand-out/ |title=Iconic Finnish nature symbols stand out |last=Weaver |first=Fran |date=2014 |website=thisisFinland |publisher=Finland Promotion Board |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025235927/https://finland.fi/life-society/iconic-finnish-nature-symbols-stand-out/ |archive-date=25 October 2017 }}</ref>

It is also pictured in emblems of several European towns and municipalities, such as [Bad Buchau](/source/Bad_Buchau), [Gröningen](/source/Gr%C3%B6ningen) and [Schönberg, Plön](/source/Sch%C3%B6nberg%2C_Pl%C3%B6n).

==See also==
*[Nanbanzuke](/source/Nanbanzuke)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [https://australianmuseum.net.au/Redfin-Perca-fluviatilis/ Redfin Perch – Perca fluviatilis]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q166812}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Perch
Category:Fish of the Baltic Sea
Category:Freshwater fish of Europe
Category:Fish of Asia
Category:Fish of Russia
Category:National symbols of Finland
Category:Fish described in 1758
Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [European perch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_perch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_perch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.