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Story: Coarse fish

Percidae features

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Percidae features

Species of the perch family, Percidae, can be distinguished from other freshwater-fish families in New Zealand as they all have large, thick scales, a lateral line, two dorsal fins, and gill covers with a broad, flat spine.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: R. M. McDowall, Reed field guide to New Zealand freshwater fishes. Auckland: Reed, 2000, p. 172

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How to cite this page

Bob McDowall, Coarse fish – Introductions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/15738/percidae-features (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bob McDowall, published 1 March 2009.