Perch Dissection Flashcards

Perch Classification and Anatomy

• Perch belong to the class Osteichthyes, known as bony fish.
• They are ray-finned fish, characterized by fins supported by spiny rays of cartilage, enhancing their speed in water.

Fin Functions

• Dorsal fin: Provides stabilization.
• Caudal fin: Propels the fish through water.
• Anul fin: Aids in making turns.
• Pelvic fin: Facilitates directional movement and sharp turns.
• Pectoral fin: Controls vertical movement.

Swim Bladder Function

• The swim bladder provides buoyancy, enabling the fish to regulate its position in water by rising or sinking.
• It also helps maintain gas concentration in the fish's blood.

External Appearance

• Yellow perch display a yellow to brassy green hue with 6 to 8 dark vertical saddles and a white to yellow underbelly.

Scientific Classification

• The scientific name for yellow perch is Perca flavescens.

Spawning Behavior

• Yellow perch spawn between mid-April and early May, laying eggs over vegetation in large, gelatinous adhesive masses without parental care.

Digestive System Components

• Key organs of the perch's digestive system include the small intestine, large intestine, and stomach.

Circulatory System

• The perch has a two-chambered heart that pumps blood through a closed circulatory system, with blood entering the auricle and exiting through the ventricle.

Sensory Structures

• The lateral line, located along each side of the body, detects vibrations in the surrounding water.

Age Determination

• The age of a yellow perch can be determined by counting the growth rings on its scales.

Jaw Mobility

• Only the top jaw of the perch is movable, which aids in capturing prey.

Eyelids

• Perch do not have eyelids.

Gill Structure

• Each side of the perch has one gill, protected by a bony covering called the operculum.

Gill Rakers Function

• Gill rakers are bony structures that exist on the gill arch and assist in filtering tiny prey.

Gas Exchange Process

• Gas exchange occurs at the gills as dissolved oxygen diffuses across the gill walls.

Fin Characteristics

• The caudal fin is the largest fin, essential for propulsion through water.

Scale Arrangement

• Scales on the trunk and tail become increasingly spiky when touched, reflecting their unique arrangement.

Buoyancy Control via Swim Bladder

• The swim bladder is typically filled with air, allowing the fish to control its buoyancy effectively.