Scientific Name
Siniperca chuatsi

Common Name
Mandarin fish

Biology
Inhabits rivers (Ref. 26334). A demersal piscivore which has very specialized feeding habits--as soon as it starts feeding, it feeds solely on fry of other fish species. Typical of a stalking predator, it relies on vision for following the movement of prey before leaping forward and snapping at the victim. Its prey consist mostly of diurnal fishes whose eyes have color vision and high acuity but cannot function at night. The habitat of the Chinese perch is usually rich in macrophytes and might be very turbid during rainy season (Ref. 28033).

Classification

Classified By

Basilewsky, 1855

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Temperate perches (Percichthyidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: Amur River basin and China.

Range

53°N - 34°N, 113°E - 142°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

4 °C

Water Temperature To

22 °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 7.0 - 7.4; dH range: 2 - 5 benthopelagic; depth range 10 - ? m (Ref. 26334)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.80 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

70.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (56 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1-2)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated