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Perca fluviatilis  Linnaeus, 1758

European perch
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Native range
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Perca fluviatilis   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Perca fluviatilis (European perch)
Perca fluviatilis
Picture by McDowall, R.M.

Finland country information

Common names: Ahven
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: abundant (always seen in some numbers) | Ref: Koli, L., 1990
Importance: minor commercial | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: gamefish: yes;
Comments: Occurs through the country. Perch is the most common fish in Finland; it is an important recreational fishing species.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/fi.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Koli, L., 1990
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Percidae (Perches) > Percinae
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Окунь обыкновенный, 欧洲河鲈, Perche européenne, ... more

Main reference

Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof. 2007. (Ref. 59043)
 References | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 60.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 556); max. published weight: 4.8 kg (Ref. 2058); max. reported age: 22 years (Ref. 796)

Length at first maturity
 Lm 16.8, range 11 - 23.4 cm

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; demersal; pH range: 7.0 - 7.5; dH range: 8 - 12; anadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 9988), usually 3 - 4 m (Ref. 55947)

Climate / Range

Temperate; 10°C - 22°C (Ref. 1672), preferred ?; 74°N - 38°N, 91°W - 168°E

Distribution

Eurasia: throughout Europe to northernmost extremity of Scandinavia, except Iberian Peninsula, central Italy, and Adriatic basin; Aegean Sea basin in Matriza and from Struma to Aliakmon drainages; Aral Sea basin; Siberia in rivers draining the Arctic Ocean eastward to Kolyma. Widely introduced. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
 Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 20; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 7 - 10; Vertebrae: 39 - 42. Diagnosed from other species of Percidae in Europe by having the following unique characters: pelvic and anal fins yellow to red; posterior part of first dorsal fin with dark blotch; and flank with 5-8 bold dark bars, usually Y-shaped. Differs further by the combination of the following features: two dorsal fins, clearly separated from each other; and 56-77 scales along lateral line (Ref. 59043). Body greenish-yellow; 5-9 transverse black bands on the sides; first dorsal fin gray, black spot at the tip; second dorsal greenish-yellow; pectorals yellow; other fins red. First dorsal fin markedly higher than the second. Caudal fin emarginate (Ref. 2058).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Inhabits a very wide range of habitats from estuarine lagoons, lakes of all types to medium-sized streams. Feeding larvae occur in open water. This is an opportunistic diurnal feeder which preys mainly during sunrise and sunset, using all available prey. Larvae and small juveniles usually feed on planktonic invertebrates. During first summer, many juveniles move near shores to feed on benthic prey. Often feeds on fishes at about 12 cm SL. May undertake short spawning migrations. Males attain first sexual maturity at 1-2 years and females at 2-4 years of age. Spawns in February-July (Ref. 59043). Eggs grouped in long white ribbons (up to 1 m) are found over submerged objects (Ref. 41678). Its flesh is excellent and not so bony. Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried and baked (Ref. 9988). May be captured with natural or artificial bait (Ref. 30578).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

  Least Concern (LC) 

Threat to humans

  Potential pest



Human uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

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Internet sources

Alien/Invasive Species database | BHL | BOLDSystems | Check for other websites | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO(Aquaculture: production; fisheries: production, species profile; publication : search) | GenBank(genome, nucleotide) | GOBASE | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | iSpecies | National databases | Public aquariums | PubMed | Scirus | Sea Around Us | SeaLifeBase | Tree of Life | uBio | uBio RSS | Wikipedia(Go, Search) | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoological Record | Fishtrace

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
 PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
 4.4   ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
 Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.1-0.4; tm=2-4; tmax=22; Fecundity=13,000)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
 Moderate to high vulnerability (50 of 100)
Price category (Ref. 80766)
 Unknown