Species group · Bony fish

Perch

WAnimals has 5 species of perch, spread across 5 families (Anabantidae, Centrarchidae, Embiotocidae, Percidae, Terapontidae).

5 species
5 families
112 countries
163 parks
Weight
3 kg – 10 kg
Length
10 cm – 97 cm
Lifespan
8 – 15 years

Ranges calculated from the entries that record the figure, not from all 5.

All 5 species of perch on WAnimals

Each one has its own full entry. This group does not replace them: it brings them together.

Conservation status

5 Least Concern

No species documented in this group is genuinely at risk according to the IUCN, with the data available today.

See the global conservation status

Where they live

Recorded in 112 countries. The ones with the most species in the group:

Where to see them

Did you know…

  • It eats planktonic invertebrates as a juvenile and small fish as an adult.

    From Perch

  • It lives in lakes, slow-flowing rivers and estuaries across Eurasia.

    From Perch

  • It is considered invasive in Australia and other regions where it has been introduced.

    From Perch

  • The male builds the nest, fertilises the eggs and guards them aggressively for weeks, going without food for much of that time.

    From Largemouth Bass

  • It eats small fish, crayfish, frogs and aquatic insects.

    From Largemouth Bass

  • It lives in lakes, ponds, swamps and slow-flowing rivers of North America.

    From Largemouth Bass

  • It can cover several hundred metres over land using its pectoral fins and gill covers, which is where its name comes from.

    From Climbing Perch

  • It has the most developed labyrinth organ in its whole family relative to body size, which lets it breathe air and live in water almost devoid of oxygen.

    From Climbing Perch

Ecosystems

See every species group · Explore the species one by one