| Percopsiformes | |
|---|---|
| Percopsis omiscomaycus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Percopsiformes |
| Family: | Percopsidae |
| Genus: | Percopsis Agassiz, 1849 |
| genera | |
|
†Amphiplaga |
|
Percopsidae is a family of fish in the order Percopsiformes. Its living members are two North American fresh water species of the genus Percopsis, trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus (Walbaum 1792) and sand roller Percopsis transmontana (Eigenmann & Eigenmann 1892).
They are small fish with weak fin spines, and an adipose fin similar to those of trouts. They feed on insects and small crustaceans.[1]
Trout perch are silvery-transparent in appearance. Specimens found in the US range from 76-102 mm while ones found in Canada can get as big as 152 millimetres (6.0 in). These fish live 3-4 years in shallow lakes and streams, hiding among rocks. They survive on chironomids, mayflies, amphipods, and small fish.
Similar in appearance to trout-perch, although shorter and stubbier, sand rollers grow up to 9.6 cm and live up to 6 years in slow-moving, sandy-bottomed streams and rivers among vegetation. Their diet includes flies and Trichoptera, although juveniles also have been known to eat crustacean zooplankton.