Golden mandarin fish | |
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Yellow (foreground) and speckled (behind) individuals | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Family: | Sinipercidae |
Genus: | Siniperca |
Species: | S. scherzeri
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Binomial name | |
Siniperca scherzeri Steindachner, 1892
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Synonyms[2] | |
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The golden mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri), also known as the leopard mandarin fish, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, an Asian perch from the family Sinipercidae, which is native to eastern Asia (Korea, China, and Vietnam).[2] This species can reach at least 33.4 cm (1.1 ft) in standard length and 607.3 g (1.34 lb) in weight.[3] It is typically yellowish-brown with blackish-brown speckles ("leopard"), but there are also bright yellow ("golden") individuals, which are particularly prized in Korea[4] and selectively bred in captivity.[5]
It is a commercially important fish, but has declined due to overfishing and habitat loss.[6] It is farmed; typically using pure specimens,[7] but sometimes involving hybrids with the faster-growing mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi).[6] Danyang County, North Chungcheong Province organizes a fishing festival for golden mandarin fish every April.[8]