Bigscale Logperch

This fish is defined by scales on its nape and breast and a lack of yellow-orange band on the dorsal fin that defines P. caprodes. It generally has large-sized scales, less scales on its lateral line, a more fusiform shape, and a longer caudal peduncle than P. caprodes. This fish differs from other darters by a smaller head size and a unique pattern of lateral bars. This fish has about 20 vertical bars that extend from the dorsal area towards the middle of the lateral section. The central 5-8 bars are darker than the rest, and they continue down the body until reaching the caudal peduncle. P. macrolepida has ctenoid scales on its nape, cheeks, preopercle, and opercle, and both sexes have a scaled stomach. However, females have a mid-ventral line bare of scales, while males have scales on this area. This fish has a terminal mouth with well-developed teeth in multiple rows; the first row of teeth is curved backwards into the mouth. The terminal mouth is characteristic of the Percina genus and infers its ability to eat prey from sides of rocks. P. macrolepida’s vomer, the flat bone on the roof of its mouth, features small prickles.

P. macrolepida are dull-colored and feature dark-colored vertical bars. In adults, the head is dark green while the cheeks and supraoccipital region are yellow-green, and the stomach is cream-colored. …

P. macrolepida are found in all major river systems in Texas, Sabine River in Louisiana, Pecos River in New Mexico, Red River in Oklahoma, and Rio San Carlos in Coahuila, Mexico. It has also been found in irrigation canals and Baker Lake in Colorado and Red River in Arkansas. This fish was introduced into California waters by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1954. They were accidentally mixed in a shipment of other fish and brought to Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County. They are currently found in the Sacramento-San Joaquin watershed, including Feather River, the Sacramento Delta, San Joaquin Valley, Putah Creek, and Cache Creek, as well as Del Valle Reservoir in Alameda County, Berryessa Reservoir in Napa County, and several reservoirs in Southern California. This extensive movement results from P. macrolepida being used as bait for other fish; it is frequently transported by fishermen to new locations. The fish is relatively abundant and is not endangered. P. macrolepida are typically found in large freshwater rivers, lakes, and streams. It is also found in impounded waters like irrigation canals and ponds. This species is unique in that it tends to avoid turbulence in water. This fish is most common in warm, clear streams or shallow reservoirs and can also survive in irrigation canals.

This fish spends its time motionless, only moving in short bursts or longer to find food. It digs pits in the substrate with its tail where it sits without moving. It is an opportunistic feeder, meaning it eats what insects or invertebrates are most common in the environment. Juvenile darters eat small crustaceans like water fleas, plankton, and ostracods. Juveniles are obligate planktivores while their mouth develops, then eat larvae and invertebrates as adults. Adults eat midges, black flies, mayflies, and caddisflies. One study found that juveniles prefer substrates of deep sand rather than shallow sand or gravel. It was theorized that the deep sand allowed juveniles to detect where areas are not as turbulent, which is better for feeding on invertebrates. Areas with less turbulence and waves tend to have more zooplankton than areas with more frequent waves. Adults did not prefer deep sand as consistently, largely being found in areas with less sand and more turbulence. This implies that adults prefer waves to dredge up larger prey to eat. Members of Etheostomatini, which includes P. macrolepida, generally have a high larval mortality, constant death rate of adults, then high mortality as age increases. Darters have 3 distinct types of ova: small white ova in early fall, intermediate yellow ova in winter, and large orange ova in spring, then spawn in spring. …