Distribution in the area:
Jamieson Lake, Lavellee Lake,
Name:
Percopsis, from the Greek, "perch-like"
omiscomaycus, a native American name containing the
root for "trout"
Common name from its similarity to both trout and perch
Other common names include: Grounder Minnow, Sandroller,
Silver Chub
Taxonomy:
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata, animals with a spinal chord
Subphylum Vertebrata, animals with a backbone
Superclass Osteichthyes, bony fishes
Class Actinopterygii, ray-finned and spiny rayed fishes
Subclass Neopterygii
Infraclass Teleostei
Superorder Paracanthopterygii
Order Percopsiformes
Suborder Percopsoidei
Family Percopsidae, the trout-perches
Genus Percopsis, the trout-perches
One of only two species in the trout-perch family Percopsidae,
these little fish combine the characteristics of spiny-rayed
and soft-rayed fishes, resembling both trout and perch.
They are a surviving remnant of a larger group now mostly
extinct.
Description:
An unusual little fish of interesting
pedigree.
Length:
3"-5", females larger than males
Coloration:
back and sides pale olive, straw-colored,
or silvery to almost translucent
five distinct rows of black spots on back and sides
belly whitish
Body:
thick-bodied
tail fin deeply forked
fleshy adipose fin
single dorsal fin with two weak spines and 10-11 rays
anal fin with single weak spine and 6-7 rays
pelvic fin with one spine and 8-9 rays
lateral line of 47-58 scales
Head:
large head
mouth horizontal and large
upper jaw not reaching beyond the front of the eye
Lifespan 4 to 5 years
Identification:
Resembles a small perch, but
can be distinguished from them by the presence of an
adipose fin, a feature of trout.
Habitat:
Prefers stream habitats with
high water quality and is most commonly found in streams
that have deep pools and bottoms of sand and gravel.
Lake populations avoid mud-filled bays.
Spends daylight hours in deeper water or in piles of
sticks, leaves or other debris.
Food:
Nocturnal; feeds over shallow
bottoms on aquatic insects and other small invertebrates.
Moves during daylight into deep water or hides around
structure.
Where abundant, an important prey species for Northem
Pike (Esox lucius), Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens),
and Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum).
Uses:
Popular neither as game nor
as bait.
Reproduction:
Spawns
from May through August over rock and sandy bottom.
Random spawners, they give no parental care to the eggs
or fry. |
