Fish
Creole Perch
Percichthys trucha
Camouflaged against a rocky Patagonian streambed, a creole perch hunts insects and small fish in waters it has called home for far longer than the introduced trout now competing with it for the same food.
Overview
The creole perch, Percichthys trucha, is a Least Concern freshwater fish native to the rivers and lakes of Patagonian Chile and Argentina. One of relatively few fish species native to the region, it has faced growing competitive pressure since trout and salmon were introduced for sport fishing across much of its range.
A native fish under pressure
Where introduced trout and salmon have established themselves, the creole perch has often declined, outcompeted for food and habitat by species that did not exist in Patagonian waters before deliberate stocking began.
Status
Least Concern, remaining present across much of its historic Patagonian range despite ongoing competitive pressure from introduced species.
Creole Perch: common questions
Why has the creole perch declined in parts of its range?
Introduced trout and salmon, stocked widely across Patagonia for sport fishing, compete with the creole perch for food and habitat, pushing it out of many rivers and lakes where it was once common.
What does the creole perch eat?
It is a carnivore, preying on insects, crustaceans, and smaller fish in the rivers and lakes it inhabits.
Is the creole perch native to Patagonia?
Yes, it is one of the relatively few freshwater fish species native to Patagonia, found naturally across the region's rivers and lakes long before trout and salmon were introduced.
What does the creole perch look like?
It has a dull, mottled olive-brown body that provides effective camouflage against the rocky bottoms of Patagonian streams and lakes.