Perch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Perch |
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| Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) | |
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Percidae
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Perca
Linnaeus, 1758
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A perch is a type of fish that belongs to the genus Perca. These fish are well-known around the world and are often caught for sport or food. They live in freshwater environments like lakes, rivers, and ponds.
Contents
What Perch Look Like
Perch have a unique appearance that helps them survive in their watery homes.
Their Body and Scales
Perch have scales that feel "rough" to the touch. If you looked at a perch scale under a microscope, it would look like a small plate. This plate has growth rings and tiny spikes along its top edges. These scales protect the fish's body.
Head Features
On the top part of a perch's head, you'll find its mouth, two nostrils, and two eyes that don't have eyelids. On the sides of its head are special covers called operculum. These covers protect the gills, which perch use to breathe underwater.
Special Senses
Perch also have a lateral line system. This is a set of sense organs that run along the sides of their body. This system helps them feel vibrations in the water. It's like their own built-in radar, helping them find prey or avoid danger.
Their Fins
Perch have several fins that help them swim and steer. They have a pair of pectoral fins and a pair of pelvic fins near their belly. On their back, they have two dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is spiny, while the second one is soft. They also have an anal fin near their tail, which is also spiny, and a strong caudal fin (tail fin) that helps them push through the water.
Images for kids
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European perch (Perca fluviatilis), showing its green color, red-tipped fins, and vertical bars on its sides.
See also
In Spanish: Percas para niños
