American perch

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American perch
American perch

American perch

Systematics
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Perch-like (Perciformes)
Subordination : Percoidei
Family : Real perch (Percidae)
Genre : Perca
Type : American perch
Scientific name
Perca flavescens
( Mitchill , 1814)

The American perch ( Perca flavescens ) is only slightly different from the Eurasian ( Perca fluviatilis ). Nevertheless, today it is clear that he is his own "good" species - since the two cannot be crossed viable.

features

There are a number of characteristics in which the two types differ statistically. The American perch has slightly more saddle bands (horizontal stripes; 5–9) than the Eurasian (5–8), the ventral fins are less reddish, the maximum size seems to be smaller (weight 2 kg at approx. 40 cm compared to 10 kg at approx. 65 cm long!). The black dorsal spot is less pronounced. The color is more green-gold than green-silver. Anatomically, it differs in that the predorsal (the first, enlarged interneural bone in front of the first dorsal fin) is a muscle segment further back than in the European species.

Fin formulas :

  • P. flavescens : D1 XII-XIV; D2 II / 12-13. A II / 7 - 9. 51 - 61 lateral line scales.
  • P. fluviatilis : D1 XIII-XIX; D2 I / 15-18; A II / 8 - 11. 39 - 42 vertebrae. 56 - 77 lateral line scales.

Occurrence

The American perch, known in the USA as the Yellow Perch, occurs in all of North America east of the Rocky Mountains - if not through natural spread, then through human help (today in all contiguous Union states). This has to do with the fact that it is valued more than our perch by the population as a sport fish, but also as an edible fish. The yellow perch is particularly popular in the Great Lakes area , where at the beginning of the 1970s over 10,000 tons were marketed annually. Since that time, the catch has decreased to such an extent that the fish had to be placed under local protection, hatcheries were put into operation and even mass cage rearing was carried out to supply restaurants. Especially in winter it is difficult to get through without importing fillets of the European Perca fluviatilis from the EU - however, proof of origin is easily possible to inform the consumer by means of a PCR test .

Individual proof

  1. ↑ Rex M. Strange, Carol A. Stepien: Yellow (Perca flavescens) and Eurasian (P. fluviatilis) perch distinguished in fried fish samples by DNA analysis. Fishery Bulletin, 107, 2007, pp. 292-295 ( PDF ).

literature

  • E. Herman, W. Wiley, L. Wiegert, M. Burdick: The yellow perch: Its life history, ecology and management. Wisconsin Conservation Department, Madison 1959.

Web links

Commons : American perch ( Perca flavescens )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

American perch on Fishbase.org (English)