Perch
Perch Dissection Pre-AP Biology April 9, 2014 - Vu 3rd
Perca flavescens
The perch, or Perca flavescens (yellow perch), falls under the phylum Chordata. The perch is a fresh water fish that are most commonly found in small ponds, lakes, streams, or rivers. The general body type of a perch is usually long and and rounded. They have rough or ctenoid scales all around their body. On the anterior side of the head are the maxilla and lower mandible for the mouth, a pair of nostrils, and two eyes without eye lids. On the posterior sides are the orpecula, which are there to protect the gills, and the lateral line system, which is sensitive to vibrations in the water. They have paired pectoral and pelvic fins, and two dorsal fins, the first one spiny and the second soft. These two fins can be separate or joined.
Objectives
While reading through this presentation, you will learn about the external and internal anatomy of a Perch. You will also learn the structures and functions of different organs in a perch, and it's circulatory system and how it works.
Perch Life Cycle
When perch mate in upstream waters, the female perch will receive sperm from the male perch and will fertilize eggs. When the female lays the eggs, after 3 weeks the baby fish will hatch. These fish will grow and go back down the stream or river to their new home. when they are ready to mate, they will go back up stream and the cycle will repeat.
Habitat
Perch are carnivorous fish that are most commonly found in small ponds, lakes, streams, or rivers. They need to live in water with lots of vegetation. These fish feed on smaller fish, shellfish, or insect larvae.
Predators
Predators of Yellow Perch include larger fish, such as Large-mouth Bass, Small-mouth Bass, Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Chain Pickerel, Walleye, Bluegill and other sunfish. Birds, including herons, gulls, eagles, hawks, kingfishers, and mergansers can eat them as well as other fish-eating animals, such as turtles and bullfrogs.
Evolutionary Relationships of a Perch
Perch Dissection - tutorial
Bony Fish (Perch) Anatomy
External Anatomy
Fins: dorsal, caudal, anal, pelvic, pectoral
eyes, scales, gill
Internal Anatomy
Kidney, pyloric caeca, spinal cord, spine, brain, heart, liver, stomach, intestines, vent
Circulatory System
Gill capillaries, arteries, arteriole, heart (atrium, ventricle), capillary beds, venule, vein
Circulatory System
Perches have closed circulatory systems. The heart, which consists of atrium ventricles, transports blood through the entire fish. The heart pumps blood to the higher arteries which is rich in O2. The arteries transport the blood to the arteriole which is an artery that connects capillary beds. The capillary beds transport blood to the venule which is part of the veins. The veins are O2 poor blood. Gill capillaries are capillaries in the gills to keep the gills regulated. The dorsal aorta runs the length of the entire fish. The dorsal aorta delivers blood to the liver, digestive tube, the genitalia, and the kidneys.