Sacramento Perch

Now extirpated from their native range, the Sacramento perch (Archoplites interruptus) was found in river drainages and tributaries of the Central Valley. This species primarily exists only in lakes and reservoirs they were transplanted into. Sacramento perch have a maximum total length of 73 cm. Their laterally compressed body ranges from brown or olive to purple or green in color with a broken barred pattern on the sides. During spawning, Sacramento perch can lay from 8,000 to 125,000 eggs at a time. Eggs hatch relatively quickly – in one to three days, depending on the surrounding water temperature. Male Sacramento perch guard their eggs in a nest until they hatch. They are opportunistic feeders, primarily eating benthic (bottom dwelling) prey. One of the primary threats faced by this species is a lack of genetic diversity in remaining populations. To combat this issue, CDFW annually transplants individuals between populations in an effort to increase the genetic diversity of all populations.

Fun Fact: The Latin name of this fish, “interruptus”, means “interrupted” in reference to the barred pattern on its sides.