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The perch family is one of the most diverse groups represented by153 species in North America; about 48 species live in Virginia's waters. The yellow perch, walleye, and sauger are the major sport and food fish in this family. The remaining 150 species of small colorful darters occupy streams and lakes throughout the country. Some darters are drab, but many, and especially males in the breeding season are as colorful as tropical reef fishes. Darters, such as the snail darter, are very specialized, live in a variety of habitats, and delight ichthyologists because of their diversity and beauty. Darters, as the name implies, dart about on the bottom primarily because they lack a swim bladder Percids have two dorsal fins, the first with spines and the second with soft rays, separate or slightly joined.

Yellow perch and walleye (and it's cousin the sauger) are cool water (70-80 F) fish that thrive in the northern U.S.,and Canada, especially the Great Lakes, large reservoirs, and big rivers. These species school in open water and near the bottom. They are spring broadcast spawners. Perch eggs are extruded in a unique accordion-like gelatinous egg mass up to 2 feet in length over which entwines in aquatic vegetation, while walleye and sauger boadcast their eggs over gravel. Adults feed voraciously on small fish and invertebrates, principally at sunrise and sunset.

Yellow perch and walleye are a highly prefered sport and food fish in Canada and the Great Lakes region. They have a mild-flavored white flesh and command high prices in food markets and restaurants. Attempts at farming these species have met with limited success.


Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch
Dusky Darter
Dusky Darter
Sharpnose Darter
Sharpnose Darter
Blotchside Logperch
Blotchside Logperch
Roanoke Logperch
Roanoke Logperch
Logperch
Logperch
Stripeback Darter
Stripeback Darter
Appalachia Darter
Appalachia Darter
Shield Darter
Shield Darter
Roanoke Darter
Roanoke Darter
Gilt Darter
Gilt Darter
Tangerine Darter
Tangerine Darter
Channel Darter
Channel Darter
Ashy Darter
Ashy Darter
Swannanoa Darter
Swannanoa Darter
Kanawha Darter
Kanawha Darter
Candy Darter
Candy Darter
Greenside Darter
Greenside Darter
Greenside Darter
Greenside Darter
Banded Darter
Banded Darter
Snubnose Darter
Snubnose Darter
Speckled Darter
Speckled Darter
Longfin Darter
Longfin Darter
Riverweed Darter
Riverweed Darter
Johnny Darter
Johnny Darter
Glassy Darter
Glassy Darter
Bluebreast Darter
Bluebreast Darter
Redline Darter
Redline Darter
Tippecanoe Darter
Tippecanoe Darter
Sharphead Darter
Sharphead Darter
Wounded Darter
Wounded Darter
Fantail Darter
Fantail Darter
Sawcheek Darter
Sawcheek Darter
Carolina Darter
Carolina Darter
Rainbow Darter
Rainbow Darter
Swamp Darter
Swamp Darter
Blueside Darter
Blueside Darter
Spotted Darter
Spotted Darter
Tessellated Darter
Tessellated Darter
Finescale Saddled Darter
Finescale Saddled Dart.
Variegate Darter
Variegate Darter
Blackside Darter
Blackside Darter
Stripeback Darter
Stripeback Darter
Walleye
Walleye

VAFWIS


Continue Browsing Families.....
  1. Petromyzontidae, Lampreys
  2. Polyodontidae, Paddlefish
  3. Acipenseridae, Sturgeons
  4. Lepisosteidae, Gars
  5. Amiidae, Bowfins
  6. Anguillidae, Freshwater Eels
  7. Amblyopsidae, Cavefishes
  8. Ictaluridae, Catfish
  9. Percopsidae, Trout-Perches
  10. Salmonidae, Trouts
  11. Clupeidae, Herrings
  12. Esocidae, Pikes
  13. Aphredoderidae, Pirate Perches
  14. Umbridae, Mudminnows
  15. Fundulidae, Killifishes
  16. Poeciliidae, Livebearers
  17. Cyprinidae, Minnows
  18. Catostomidae, Suckers
  19. Gasterosteidae, Sticklebacks
  20. Atherinidae, Silversides
  21. Cottidae, Sculpins
  22. Sciaenidae, Drums
  23. Percidae, Perches
  24. Moronidae, Striped Basses
  25. Centrarchidae, Sunfishes

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