Pirate Perch

The pirate perch, Aphredoderus sayanus, is a freshwater fish of the Percopsiformes order. This small fish (up to 14 centimetres (5.5 in) TL) is native to the eastern half of North America. It is dark brown, sometimes with a darker band near the base tail. A unique feature of this fish is the forward placement of its cloaca, under the head, anterior to the pelvic fins. This placement allows the females to place their eggs more precisely into root masses.

Evidence suggests that pirate perch are the only known animal that may exhibit chemical camouflage, or crypsis.

Its preferred habitat are backwaters of warm water and little current. The fish was named by Charles C. Abbott on account of the fact that he observed it eating only other fishes.

The pirate perch is related to the trout-perches, but only loosely; it is, for example, the only species in its family: Aphredoderidae. The specific name sayanus is a tribute to naturalist Thomas Say.

The Pirate perch, Aphredoderus sayanus, is a freshwater fish that commonly inhabits coastal waters along the east coast of the United States and the backwater areas of the Mississippi Valley. This species is often found towards the bottom of clear warm water habitats with low currents. These fish are normally solitary, with a carnivorous appetite and are mainly nocturnal. The pirate perch is known to consume food items have included live mosquito larva, amphipods, glass shrimp, meal worms, small fish, dragonfly and stonefly larva and earthworms. This species method of breeding was misunderstood for quite some time due to difficulties in making in situ observations. At first it was speculated that the urogenital positioning of the pirate perch serves to promote egg transfer to the fish's branchial chamber for gill-brooding. However, it was determined that the pirate perch do not bronchial breed, instead lay their eggs within underwater root masses which are then fertilized by the male perch. It has been studied and they release their adhesive eggs into these underwater root masses instead of branchial brooding. While the pirate perch is not an endangered species, they are uncommon due to the habitats they occupy and the time of the day they are active.