Animalia Life

Percopsis transmontana
FAMILY
Percopsidae
TAXONOMY
Columbia transmontana Eigenmann and Eigenmann, 1892, near the mouth of the Umatilla River, Umatilla County, Oregon, United States.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
None known.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Grows to 3.78 in (9.6 cm). Like the troutperch, this species has a large and naked head and chambers in the lower jaws and cheeks known as “pearl organs.”
DISTRIBUTION
This species is found in the Columbia River system and some tributaries from the middle Columbia River in Washington downstream to within 25 mi (40 km) above its mouth, including western Idaho, southern Washington, and northern and western Oregon, United States.
HABITAT
They occur in slow-moving portions of streams and rivers, such as backwaters and marginal pools. They prefer mud-sand bottoms, although they have been reported over rubble substrate with considerable aquatic vegetation.
BEHAVIOR
Nothing is known.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds on small aquatic invertebrates. Vulnerable to dragonfly nymphs, larger fishes, water snakes, and fish-eating birds.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Little is known, except that they can live up to six years.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN, but the species may have disappeared from Idaho waters.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
They have no significant economic or cultural importance to humans.

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