Pirate perch

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iPirate perch
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Percopsiformes
Family: Aphredoderidae
Genus: Aphredoderus
Lesueur in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1833
Species: A. sayanus
Binomial name
Aphredoderus sayanus
(Gilliams, 1824)

The pirate perch, Aphredoderus sayanus, is a freshwater fish of the Percopsiformes order. This small fish is native to the eastern half of North America. It is dark brown, sometimes with a darker band near the base tail. A unique feature of this fish is the forward placement of its anus, under the head, anterior to the pelvic fins.

Its preferred habitat are backwaters of warm water and little current. The fish was named by Charles C. Abbott on account of the fact that he observed it eating only other fishes.

The pirate perch is related to other trout-perch - but only loosely - a fact reflected by the species is the only one in its family - Aphredoderidae. The epithet sayanus is a tribute to naturalist Thomas Say.

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