The
yellow perch (
Perca flavescens), commonly referred to as
perch, is a freshwater
perciform fish native to much of
North America. The yellow perch was described in 1814 by
Samuel Latham Mitchill from New York. Yellow perch are closely related, and morphologically similar to the
European perch (
Perca fluviatilis); however, the two are recognized as independent species based on anatomical and genetic differences. Other common names for yellow perch include American perch, coontail, lake perch, raccoon perch, ring-tail perch, ringed perch, and striped perch.