Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus

Family
Percopsidae (Trout-Perches)
Tolerance
Sensitive
Trophic Class
Benthic Invertivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
True
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 2 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 0 fisheries assessment sites, and 0 fisheries presence-only assessment sites. In total, it was collected at 2 distinct sites, or 0.1% of the 1473 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 120th most commonly collected species.

The Trout-perch was collected in 4 bioassessment sampling sessions and 0 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 0 presence-only sessions.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 31 individual Trout-perch specimens, ranking it the #108 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

A thick-bodied, translucent-looking fish. This fish looks like both a trout and a perch. It has the adipose fin and naked head of the Salmonids, but the ctenoid scales, fin spines, and mouth shape similar to Percids. The mouth is horizontal and large with the upper jaw not reaching beyond the front of the eye. The tail fin is deeply forked with a fleshy adipose fin. The single dorsal fin has two weak spines and 10 to 11 rays. The anal fin has a single weak spine and 6 to 7 rays, and the pelvic fin has one spine with 8 to 9 rays. A lateral line is present with 47 to 58 scales. The back and sides are pale olive or straw-colored and the belly whitish. There are two longitudinal rows of dark spots along either side and a single mid-dorsal row. Adults are commonly 3- to 5-inches long.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found