'''Perch''' is a [[common name]] for [[freshwater fish]] offrom the [[genus]] '''''Perca''''', freshwaterwhich [[gamefish]] belongingbelongs to the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Percidae]]. The perch, of which three species occur in different geographical areas, lend their name to athe large order of [[vertebrateorder (biology)|order]]s: the [[PerciformPerciformes]]es,. The name comes from the {{lang-el|πέρκη}} ({{transliteration|el|perke}}), simply meaning perch, and the [[Latintype species]] ''forma'' meaning shape. Many species of freshwaterthis gamefish more or less resemble perch, but belong to different genera. In factgenus, the exclusively saltwater-dwelling [[redEuropean drumperch]] is often referred to as a red perch, though by definition perch are freshwater fish(''P. Though many fish are referred to as perch as a common name, to be considered a true perch, the fish must be of the family Percidaefluviatilis'').
Many species of freshwater [[game fish]] more or less resemble perch, but belong to different genera. In fact, the exclusively saltwater-dwelling [[red drum]] (which belong to a different order [[Acanthuriformes]]) is often referred to as a "red perch", though by definition perch are freshwater species. Though many fish are referred to as perch as a common name, to be considered a true perch, the fish must be of the family Percidae.
The [[type species]] for this genus is the [[European perch]], ''P. fluviatilis''.
