Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758

Species Nomenclature

European perch (Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758) are greenish, with red pelvic, anal, and caudal fins.

Body Markings

They have 5 to 8 dark vertical bars along their sides.

Morphological Development

As individuals grow larger, a hump develops between the head and the dorsal fin.

Size Variation

This species can vary greatly in size across different bodies of water.

Lifespan

European perch can live up to 22 years, and older individuals are often much larger than average.

Maximum Recorded Length

The maximum recorded length for this species is 60 cm (24 in).

British Size Record

The British record for European perch stands at 2.806 kg (6 lb 3.0 oz), and the species grows larger in mainland Europe than in Britain.

IGFA World Record

As of May 2016, the official all-tackle world record recognized by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is 2.9 kg (6 lb 6 oz), from a Finnish fish caught on September 4, 2010.

Netherlands Record Specimen

In January 2010, a 3.75 kg (8 lb 4 oz), 58 cm (23 in) European perch was caught in the Meuse river, Netherlands.

Baltic Sea Fish Habitat

Low salinity levels in the Baltic Sea, particularly around the Finnish archipelago and Bothnian Sea, support a variety of thriving freshwater fish.

Baltic Sea Perch Abundance

European perch are especially abundant here, and grow to a considerable size because they feed on Baltic herring.

Native European Range

The native range of European perch spans all freshwater basins across Europe, with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula.

Eastern Range Extent

To the east, their range extends as far as the Kolyma River in Siberia.

Brackish Water Occurrence

The species is also common in some brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.

Typical Habitats

European perch inhabit slow-flowing rivers, deep lakes, and ponds.

Habitat Avoidance

They generally avoid cold or fast-flowing waters, though some individual fish do enter these habitats.

Breeding Habitat Limitation

They do not breed in cold or fast-flowing waters.

Lake Habitat Abundance Factors

The species is most abundant in relatively shallow lakes and lakes with deep light penetration, and less abundant in deep lakes and lakes with low light penetration.

Trophic Category

European perch are carnivorous.

Juvenile Diet

Juveniles feed on zooplankton, bottom-dwelling invertebrate fauna, and other perch fry.

Adult Diet

Adults feed on both invertebrates and fish, primarily sticklebacks, other perch, roach, and minnows.

Piscivory Onset

Perch begin preying on other fish when they reach the fingerling stage at around 120 mm (4.7 in) in length.

Sexual Maturity Timing

Male European perch reach sexual maturity between one and two years of age, while females reach sexual maturity between two and four years of age.

Spawning Period

In the Northern Hemisphere, spawning takes place between February and July.

Spawning Courtship

Males arrive at spawning areas before females, and court mates by chasing through underwater vegetation.

Egg Deposition Characteristics

During reproduction, females lay a white ribbon of eggs that can reach up to one meter long.

Egg Placement Substrates

This egg ribbon is deposited on water plants, or on the branches of submerged trees or shrubs.

Egg Dispersal Hypothesis

There has been speculation that eggs stick to the legs of wading birds and are carried to other bodies of water, but only anecdotal evidence supports this idea.

Egg Incubation Period

Eggs hatch after 8 to 16 days.

Larval Characteristics

Newly hatched larvae are 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long, and live in open water where they feed on plankton.

Juvenile Habitat Migration

Juveniles migrate to areas closer to the shore and the bottom during their first summer.