Percina caprodes
logperch

Percina caprodes (logperch) is found in North America as far north as the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi River basin areas to as far south as Gulf of Mexico drainages. Logperch are found rarely in the Great Plains and areas west of the Mississippi, but extensively along Atlantic drainages in the United States. (Page and Burr, 1991)

Logperch are found in freshwater benthic habitats, primarily the shallow waters of rivers and creeks. They are also found in large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Logperch prefer clean riffles and can be found among the sand and gravel of fast moving streams and waters. Logperch lay their eggs in sand in lake shallows, or in gravel or sand in swift current, often in riffles, or in streams. (Page, 1983)

Logperch have a unique tiger-like coloration which distinguishes them from other darters. Logperch have a pale-yellow base color, with narrow bars on the side and back. The head and snout are also uniquely conical for turning stones and sand. Logperch are not sexually dimorphic, and both males and females reach a maximum length of 15 to 18 centimeters. During spawning males can develop alternate coloring to help attract females, but otherwise expression of dichromatism is low. (Hubbs, 1985) Like all members of the Percidae family, logperch have two, separate dorsal fins, the first is spiny and the second is soft. They also have one to two anal spines and an opercular spine. (Hubbs, 1985; Page, 1983)

Logperch eggs hatch in about 8 days at 16.5 C, 5 to 7 days at 21 to 23 C. Logperch experience no intermediate stages nor metamorphosis; their appearance after hatching is very similar to adults. Logperch are sexually mature in 2 years, rarely after 1 (Page 1983, Becker 1983). Maximum breeding age of females is normally 3 years (Bart and Page 1992). (Bart and Page, 1992; Becker, 1983; Page, 1983)

Logperch have a typical lifespan of 3 to 4 years for both males and females. (Page and Burr, 1991)

Logperch, like all darters, are not schooling fish. Instead, logperch can be found either traveling alone or in small groups (Burkhead, 2005). They are mobile fish, usually foraging long stretches of river or streambed for food. Logperch have a foraging behavior that makes them unique, compared to other darters: the ability to use their conical snouts and heads to flip stones and sand in search of food. Researchers are not sure how early this foraging behavior develops, but it is present in all juvenile logperches (Hatch, 1983). Adult logperch that are actively foraging may flip 7 to 10 stones per minute (Burkhead, 2005). During the breeding season males become brilliantly colored. Unlike many darters, especially those in the genus Etheostoma, male logperches do not develop bright, gaudy colors. Instead, the subdued male logperch bears a prominent orange band along the first dorsal fin margin. Likewise, dark pigments become darker, changing from brown or olive to jet black (Hubbs, 1985). (Burkhead, 2005; Hatch, 1983; Hubbs, 1985)

Home Range

While foraging for food, marked logperch have been recorded traveling about 1.6 kilometers up and downstream from their original point of capture. Like most small fish, logperch do not stray too far from their original spawning point (Burkhead, 2005). (Burkhead, 2005)

Visual cues are used in mating. When mating is about to occur, both male and female logperch vibrate to release eggs and sperm. Logperch have a lateral line system, helping them to detect water movement.

Juvenile logperch have a diet consisting of rotifers, copepods, and waterfleas. As they grow, logperch incorporate a greater variety of small aquatic creatures. They feed on primarily aquatic insects (especially mayfly (Ephemeroptera) and midge larvae (Chironomidae)), but also young snails, waterfleas, leeches, and fish eggs (including their own) when available. (Page, 1983)

Logperch play a vital role in the food chain of lakes and streams, being food for larger piscivorous fish. Logperch that live in shallow streams and ponds also fall prey to piscivorous birds. The logperch's tiger-like coloring camouflages them to look like the riverbeds they lives on. (Hatch, 1983)

Logperch are a vital part of stream, river, and lake ecosystems by providing food for larger piscivorous fish. They themselves feed primarly on aquatic insects. Logperch are also a good indicator of ecological stability in a given area. Low numbers of logperch can indicate poor water quality or insufficient insect prey.

This species does not adversely affect humans.

Logperch are prey species for larger piscivorous fishes. Many fish that feed on logperch are used extensively by humans as game fish, including largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) (Platania 1990). (Hatch, 1983)

Logperch have no special status as endangered or otherwise.