A Perch's Life
Perch Dissection Vu-PAP BIO-3
The Perch (Perca flavescens)
The perch, (Perca flavescens) is classified as phylum Chordata, which means that the perch has a backbone. The perch also belongs to class Actinopterygii, order Perciformes, and family Percidae. Certain characteristics include being carnivorous, growing up to one pound in weight, and will live between 9-10 years. The perch will reproduce around spring time, when female perches lay their eggs in the lake in which they live in.
Today's Objectives
The student will observe the external and internal structures of the perch. The student will focus on the organs, the functions of the organs and the endocrine and circulatory systems of the perch.
Habitat
Perches live in freshwater lakes, such as Lake Erie.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of the perch starts off as a egg. The next phase is the larvae and juveniles stage. The final stage is the adult stage, the adult perch.
Predators/Prey
The perch can be considered as both predator and prey. The perch is hunted by larger fish and birds such as bass,catfish, and hawks. The perch's diet consists of algae, plankton, smaller fish, and insects.
External Structure (Dissection)
Eyes, gills, dorsal, caudal, anal, pelvic, pectoral fins, operculum, and lateral line.
Internal Structure (Dissection)
Kidney, swim bladder, esophagus, pharynx, anus, spleen, intestines, liver, heart and gills.
Internal Structure (Labeled)
Body system spotlight: Circulatory
The perch has a closed circulatory system, which means that blood does not leave the blood vessels. The system consists of the heart, gills, arteries, capillaries, and veins. Deoxygenated blood (blood with little oxygen) is pumped from the heart to the gills. The gills then oxygenates the blood and the blood is returned back to the body, which is eventually cycled back to the heart to start the cycle again.