Perch is a common name for
fish of the genus
Perca, freshwater
gamefish belonging to the family
Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of
vertebrates: the
Perciformes, from the
Greek perke, simply meaning
perch, and the
Latin forma meaning
shape. Many species of freshwater gamefish more or less resemble perch, but belong to different genera. In fact, the exclusively saltwater dwelling red drum is often referred to as a red perch, though by definition perch are freshwater fish. 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.