Redfin, Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus 1758

Other Names: English Perch, European Perch, Reddie, Redfin Perch

Redfin, Perca fluviatilis. Source: Gunther Schmida / http://www.guntherschmida.com.au. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike 3.0

Summary:

An olive-green to greyish perch, becoming paler below, with 5-6 broad dark tapering bands along the sides (more pronounced in juveniles), and bright red to reddish-orange pelvic, anal and outer parts of the caudal fin.
Redfin are relatively deep-bodied with a slightly forked tail, two separate dorsal fins and a large mouth which reaches to under the eye.
The species, a native of Europe, was introduced to Tasmania between 1858 and 1862, and to Victoria in 1861. Although popular with recreational anglers, these voracious predators consume small native fishes, and the young of larger native species.

Cite this page as:

Gomon, M.F. & Bray, D.J. 2024, Perca fluviatilis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 07 Oct 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3690

Redfin, Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus 1758

More Info

Distribution	Introduced from Europe to most southern states from the MacIntyre River drainage, New South Wales, to the Avon River drainage, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Redfin Perch were first introduced to Tasmania between 1858 and 1862, and to Victoria in 1861. Inhabits freshwater lakes, dams, billabongs, swamps and the slower-flowing reaches of rivers and streams. Redfin prefer abundant aquatic vegetation or other cover such as rocks and fallen timber. They avoid fast-flowing waters and are absent from high-altitude areas. Their optimum temperature range is 8-27°C.
Features	Dorsal fin Xlll-XVII; I-II, 13-16; Anal fin II, 8-10; Pectoral fin 11-14; Pelvic fin I,5; Lateral line scales 58-68. Body elongate-oval, moderately deep, robust, compressed; becoming deeper with increase in size, large fish with distinct hump-backed appearance. Dorsal profile above and behind eye concave, from nape backwards strongly convex; ventral profile flattened to slightly convex. Caudal peduncle long, slender. Head large, snout rounded. Eye of moderate size, situated high on head near dorsal profile. Mouth terminal, ventral in position, protrusible, quite large; gape extending back to below middle of eye. Jaws equal; with broad bands of small teeth. Operculum ends in a strong, broad, flat spine. Body covered in moderate-sized ctenoid scales that extend forward to nape, opercula, cheeks; scales thick, hard, well embedded. Lateral line unbroken, conspicuous, follows dorsal profile. Two narrowly-separated dorsal fins, first spiny, long-based, high, rounded; second smaller, soft-rayed. Anal fin opposite, similar to, but slightly smaller than second dorsal fin. Pectoral fins small, rounded to slightly elongate, positioned low on sides, just below opercular spine. Pelvic fins small, rounded, thoracic. Caudal fin relatively small, slightly forked; tips rounded.
Size	Reaches 60 cm and 10.4 kg; more commonly 1-3 kg.
Colour	Greenish-yellow to brown, often with blue hue, dorsally; lighter greenish to silvery laterally, white ventrally; 6 dark, vertical bars along sides; bars broadest, often bifurcated, on dorsal surface, becoming narrower ventrally. Dorsal fins greyish-green, first with prominent black spot on posterior margin; pectoral fins colourless to greyish-pink; anal and pelvic fins red to orange; caudal fin greyish to reddish.
Feeding	Adults feed on crustaceans (such as atyid shrimps, yabbies and freshwater crayfish), insect larvae and small fishes such as gudgeons, smelt, pygmy perch and juveniles of larger native species. Juvenile Redfin consume zooplankton, particularly small crustaceans such as copepods and cladocerans, and smaller fishes.
Biology	Spawns at night during late winter to early spring, when water temperatures reach 11-12°C. Females shed all their eggs amongst aquatic vegetation during a single spawning event. The eggs are laid amongst aquatic vegetation or onto submerged timber in long gelatinous ribbons or strands. Fecundity is high, with up to 200,000 eggs per female. The egg strands have numerous small openings through which water circulates. Eggs about 2.0-2.5 mm in diameter and are surrounded by thick mucous membrane. The time between spawning and hatching of the larvae varies considerably depending on water temperature. Larvae may hatch after 7-8 days at 14-19°C, or may take 2-3 weeks to hatch at temperatures of 8-9°C. The newly-hatched larvae are 5-8 mm long, and consume the yolk sac after several days. The fry then begin to feeding on zooplankton and disperse through the upper water column. At a length of 15-20 mm, the young perch usually gather in large schools in shallow water near the shore. Redfin usually mature after 2-3 years, although males may mature earlier, and live to a maximum age about 10-12 years.
Remarks	Although popular with recreational anglers, these introduced predators are not good for native fishes. Redfin compete for food and space with Murray Cod and Golden Perch and have been implicated in the decline of Macquarie Perch. In Western Australia, they have been implicated in the local extinction of Galaxiella munda. They also prey on newly stocked trout. Unfortunately, Redfin have been introduced into new areas by recreational anglers, thus further threatening native fish populations.
Species Citation	Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus 1758, Systema Naturae: 289. Type locality: Europe.
Author	Gomon, M.F. & Bray, D.J. 2024
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Redfin, Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus 1758

References

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