Family Percidae

Perches

A family of predominantly freshwater fishes with approximately 244 species in 12 genera native to Europe, northern, West and Central Asia, and North America. Most species belong to the American subfamily Etheostominae (darters: approximately 160 species in four genera). Three genera are found in West Asia. Percidae is distinguished from Cichlidae by the presence of a single continuous lateral line (vs. lateral line interrupted, with the anterior part of the line situated at a higher level on the body than the posterior part), from Centrarchidae (a family of fish that was introduced to the region) by the presence of one or two anal spines (vs. 3–6), and from Dicentrarchus ( Moronidae) by having 1–2 anal spines (vs. 3), and no auxiliary rows of lateral-line scales on the caudal (vs. presence). In the European part of the Black and Caspian Seas, Sander volgensis is a widely distributed and locally abundant species which has become invasive in Europe due to accidental stocking. It has not yet been found in the area covered by this book, but it cannot be excluded that it might be found in the future. Sander marinus is an additional percid found in this area. It has not been reported to enter pure freshwaters, inhabiting marine and brackish estuaries. It appears to be on the verge of extinction in the Black Sea basin, with the sole surviving population in Ukraine. In contrast, it is relatively common in the Kazakh Caspian basin, although it is rare along the coast of Azerbaijan and Iran, where it is only occasionally caught. Sander marinus and S. volgensis are included in the key to facilitate their identification. Species of Sander and Perca are commercially important food fish. Sander lucioperca has been introduced throughout West Asia, Northern Africa, and Europe to transform “low-value” fish stocks into high-value fisheries. As a result, it is widely introduced and responsible for the extinction or extirpation of endemic Leuciscidae and Cobitis species in Lakes Beyşehir and Eğirdir (Central Anatolia, Türkiye) and possibly also elsewhere.

Key to genera of Percidae in West Asia

1a - Two dorsals confluent. ……………… Gymnocephalus

1b - Two distinctly separate dorsals. ………………2

2a - Pelvic and anal yellow to red; dark-grey or black blotch on posterior part of first dorsal; 5–8 bold bars on flank, usually y-shaped. ……………… Perca

2b - Pelvic and anal whitish to brown; no dark-grey or black blotch on posterior part of first dorsal; flank with no bar or with 7–20 bars. ……………… Sander