White Perch
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Name and Code
Family
Moronidae - temperate basses
Species
Morone americana
Taxonomic Authority
(Gmelin 1789)
Common Name(s)
White Perch
French Name
baret
Species Code
301
Family TSN
170315
Parent TSN
167676
Species TSN
167678
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (2016-02-09)
National Rank (NRank)
N5 (2016-02-09)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SNA (1991-07-03)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
introduced
General Abundance
common
Tolerance
intermediate
Economic Importance
commercial fishery, pan fish
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-5.05
Slope (b)
3.13
Length Basis
FL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine; estuarine1; marine1
Environment
benthopelagic
Trophic Class
invertivore/carnivore
Thermal Regime
warmwater
Habitat Preference
shallows of lakes and bays, pools and quiet water areas of medium to large rivers, usually over mud substrate; preferred water temperature range 26-30°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Phyto-lithophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
May-June
Spawning Temperature (°C)
11-16
Fecundity
5,100-388,736
Nursery Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine; estuarine1
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
15.0-30.2 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.04-0.39
Age at Maturity (yrs)
2-3 (m); 3-4 (f)
Maximum Length (cm)
49.5 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
2.72
Lifespan (yrs)
7-10
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
29.0 TL
Record Weight (kg)
1.1
Ontario Range Map
White Perch range
Ontario Distribution
Great Lakes (except Superior) and tributaries including Thames River, St. Clair River, Detroit River; gained access to Lakes Ontario and Erie through the Erie Barge Canal
Photographs
White Perch photograph
White Perch photograph
Notes
(1) anadromous life-strategy within native range; indigenous to Atlantic coast; hybridization with White Bass reported in Lake Erie; tolerant of turbidity; exhibit schooling behaviour
Information Sources
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