| Family: |
Percidae (Perches), subfamily: Luciopercinae |
| Max. size: |
107 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 11 kg; max. reported age: 29 years |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; depth range 0 - 27 m, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
North America: St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Arctic, and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Northwest Territories in Canada, and south to Alabama and Arkansas in the USA; possibly native to Mobile Bay basin. Widely introduced elsewhere in the USA, including Atlantic and Pacific drainages. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-22; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 11-14; Vertebrae: 44-48. Nuptial tubercles absent. Differentiation of sexes difficult. Branchiostegal rays 7,7 or 7,8 (Ref. 1998). |
| Biology: |
Occurs in lakes, pools, backwaters, and runs of medium to large rivers. Frequently found in clear water, usually near brush (Ref. 86798). Prefers large, shallow lakes with high turbidity (Ref. 9988, 10294). Rarely found in brackish waters (Ref. 1998). Feeds at night, mainly on insects and fishes (prefers yellow perch and freshwater drum but will take any fish available) but feeds on crayfish, snails, frogs, mudpuppies, and small mammals when fish and insects are scarce (Ref. 1998). Although not widely farmed commercially for consumption, large numbers are hatched and raised for stocking lakes for game fishing (Ref. 9988). Utilized fresh or frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
