Category: Perch

Barred Surfperch

Surfperches/Seaperches — Family Embiotocidae Species: Amphistichus argenteus (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek word amphistichus (a double series, concerning the two rows of teeth in each jaw), and the Latin word argenteus (silvery). Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Amphistichinae. Alternate Names: Silver perch, barreds, sand perch, surfperch, and…

Walleye Surfperch

Surfperches/Seaperches: Family Embiotocidae Species:  Hyperprosopon argenteum (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek root words hyper (above) and prosopon (face, from the upward direction of the face) and the Latin word argenteum (silvery). Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Amphistichinae. Alternate Names: Silver perch, white perch, surf fish, bigeye perch,…

Pile Perch

Surfperch/Seaperch — Family Embiotocidae Species: Damalichthys vacca (Girard, 1855); from the Greek root words racos (ragged) and cheilos (lips) and the Latin word vacca (like a cow). Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Embiotocinae. Alternate Names: Splittail perch, forktail perch, dusky perch, white perch, silver perch, piler perch,…

Rainbow Seaperch

Surfperches/Seaperches — Family Embiotocidae Species: Hypsurus caryi (Agassiz, 1853); from the Greek word hyps (high), the Latin word urus (a kind of wild ox) and Greek word cary (a nut)—apparently in reference to the shape. Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Embiotocinae. Alternate Names: Rainbow surfperch, striped perch.…

Black Perch

Surfperches/Seaperches: Family Embiotocidae Species: Embiotoca jacksoni (Agassiz, 1853); from the Greek word embiotoca (bringing forth living young), and jacksoni (in honor of A. C. Jackson of San Francisco, who first noted that these perch give birth to living young and brought it to the attention…

Redtail Surfperch

Surfperches/Seaperches: Family Embiotocidae Species: Amphistichus rhodoterus (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek words amphi (double), stoichus (series, referring to the two rows of teeth in each jaw), and rhodoterus (rosy). Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Amphistichinae. Alternate Names: Redtail perch, rosy surf fish and porgy (or porgie). Identification:…

Striped Seaperch

Surfperches/Seaperches: Family Embiotocidae Species: Embiotoca lateralis (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek root words embios (living) and tocos (to bring forth) and the Latin word lateralis (lateral, due to their blue stripes). Alternate Names: Striped surfperch, rainbow perch, blue perch, striped surf fish. Early-day names included squawfish…

Rubberlip Seaperch

Surfperches/Seaperches: Family Embiotocidae Species: Rhacochilus toxotes (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek words rhacochilus (rag lip) and toxotes (pertaining to the East Indian archer fish, because of a presumed resemblance). Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Embiotocinae. Alternate Names: Buttermouth perch, porgee, sprat, or liverlip. In the 19th century…