The
Percidae are a family of
perciform fish found in fresh and
brackish waters of the
Northern Hemisphere. The majority are
Nearctic, but there are also
Palearctic species. The family contains about 200 species in 10 genera. The darters, perches, and their relatives are in this family; well-known species include the
walleye,
sauger,
ruffe, and three species of
perch. However, small fish known as
darters are also a part of this family.