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A shoal of perch in murky water

Perch-like fishes

The perch-like fishes (Perciformes) is an order of ray-finned fishes, typified by the perch. It contains the largest number of species of any vertebrate order. Fish as diverse as gobies, barracudas and remoras are in this group.

Scientific name: Perciformes

Rank: Order

Common names:

  • Acanthopteri,
  • Percomorphi

Explore this group

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Perch-like fishes distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

About

Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is the largest order of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means "perch-like". They belong to the class of ray-finned fish, and comprise over 10,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments. It contains about 160 families, which is the most of any order within the vertebrates. They are also the most variably sized order of vertebrates, ranging from the 7 millimeters (0.28 in) Schindleria brevipinguis to the 5 meters (16 ft) Makaira species. They first appeared and diversified in the Late Cretaceous. Among well-known members of this group are cichlids, sunfish/bluegill, damselfish, bass, and, of course, perch.

Read more at Wikipedia

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