Perch is the name of a family of about 165 species of freshwater fish that live in the Northern Hemisphere. The larger species, such as the yellow perch, walleye, and sauger, are popular game fish. About 150 of the smaller species in the perch family belong to a group called darters. Perch are in the group of bony fish called teleosts, to which most common fish belong.
The name perch is most commonly given to the yellow perch of North America. This golden-yellow fish is also called the ringed perch and common perch. It grows from 5 to 12 inches (13 to 30 centimeters) long and weighs up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms). Its sides are marked with several dark bars. The yellow perch is an important food fish. It ranges from the Chesapeake Bay region northward into Canada and also throughout the upper Mississippi River basin. A similar species is common in Europe.
The walleye measures 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 centimeters) long and weighs up to 24 pounds (11 kilograms). The sauger grows to 28 inches (71 centimeters) long and weighs about 9 pounds (4.1 kilograms). Both species inhabit the Great Lakes and lakes, rivers, and streams throughout the Mississippi River basin and into Canada. The walleye is also known as the pike, pickerel, walleyed pike, pike perch, and jack salmon.
Darters are found only in North America. Males are brightly colored, especially during the breeding season. The least darter measures from 1 to 11/4 inches (2.5 to 3.0 centimeters) long and weighs about 1/30 ounce (1 gram). It is the smallest fish in the perch family. See Darter.
The bluegill, longear sunfish, and pumpkinseed are sometimes referred to as perch. But they are actually in the sunfish family.
