Perca fluviatilis, Linnaeus, 1758

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 819-821

Perca fluviatilis

Common name. Perch.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Percidae in West Asia by: ● pelvic and anal yellow to red / ● dark-grey or black blotch on posterior part of first dorsal / ● 5–8, usually y-shaped bold dark-grey bars on flank / ○ two distinctly separate dorsals / ○ 56–77 total lateral-line scales. Size up to 600 mm SL, usually about 200 mm SL, females grow larger than males.

Distribution. Black Sea and western Caspian basins, south to Sefid ( Iran). Increasingly stocked in many reservoirs outside its native range, particularly in Türkiye, and often illegally by anglers. Native throughout Europe to northernmost tip of Scandinavia, except Iberian Peninsula, central Italy, and Adriatic basin. In Aegean from Maritza to Aliakmon drainages. Native in Siberia, in rivers draining to Arctic Ocean east to Kolyma (replaced by P. flavescens in North America). Introduced in Aral basin (replaced by P. schrenkii ), Ebro delta ( Spain), central and southern Italy,

Perca fluviatilis ; Odra drainage, Germany; ~ 160 mm SL.

Lake Skadar ( Montenegro, Albania), Amur (Siberia), Australia, and South Africa (list not exhaustive).

Habitat. A wide range of habitats from estuarine lagoons, lakes, and rivers of all types to medium-sized streams.

Biology. Lives up to 21 years, usually to about 6 years. Males spawn first time at 1–2 years, females at 2–4 years. Spawns February–July, depending on latitude and altitude, when temperature reaches about 6°C. May undertake short spawning migrations. Females usually spawn with several males once a year. Female circles spawning site, followed by one male, while other males remain stationary. A string of eggs is released as female swims in a clockwise spiral, folding herself into a U-shape. All eggs are released and fertilised within approximately 5 seconds in a single strand, which becomes twisted and entangled in spawning substrate. Feeding larvae are positively phototactic, live in open water, and feed on pelagic organisms. Currents can widely disperse them. Opportunistic diurnal feeders, feeding mainly at sunrise and sunset on all available prey. Larvae and small juveniles usually feed on planktonic invertebrates. Many juveniles come close to shore during first summer to feed on benthic prey. Often becomes piscivorous at about 120 mm SL. Stocks with different life histories may co-occur in some lakes (littoral, benthic, pelagic zooplanktivorous), sometimes with varying spawning sites and times.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Craig 2000 (biology); Svanbäck & Eklöv 2002 (morphology).

Large reservoirs such as Hirfanlı at the Kızılırmak have often been stocked with Sander lucioperca and several other non-native species. Sander lucioperca ; Danube delta, Romania; ~ 150 mm SL.

Sander lucioperca ; Danube, Germany; ~ 500 mm SL. A. Hartl.