The surfperches are a family, Embiotocidae, of perciform fishes. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Pacific and grow up to 45 cm (17.7 inches) long.

They are viviparous fishes, in which the embryo is nourished directly by the mother as well as the yolk. This gives the family its scientific name, from Greek

Greek language

Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...

 embios meaning "persistent" and tokos meaning "birth".

Species

There are 22 species in 13 genera:

• Genus Amphistichus
  • Barred surfperch
    Barred surfperch
    The barred surfperch occurs from northern California to southern Baja California. Like other surfperches, it gives birth to live young. The diet of the barred surfperch is made up predominantly of sand crabs .- Fishery :...
    
    , Amphistichus argenteus (Gibbons, 1854).
  • Calico surfperch, Amphistichus koelzi (Hubbs, 1933).
  • Redtail surfperch
    Redtail surfperch
    Redtail surfperch are marine fish that inhabit the near-shore and estuarine waters of North American Pacific coasts.-Description:Redtail surfperch are a deep bodied fish, , that are compressed from side to side, most often observed in the 8 to 11 inch lengths...
    
    , Amphistichus rhodoterus (Agassiz
    Louis Agassiz
    Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
    
    , 1854).
• Genus Brachyistius
  • Brachyistius aletes (Tarp, 1952).
  • Kelp perch, Brachyistius frenatus Gill
    Theodore Gill
    Theodore Nicholas Gill was an American ichthyologist, mammalogist, malacologist and librarian.Born and educated in New York City under private tutors, Gill early showed interest in natural history. He was associated with J...
    
    , 1862.
• Genus Cymatogaster
  • Shiner perch
    Shiner perch
    The shiner perch Cymatogaster aggregata is a common surfperch found in estuaries, lagoons, and coastal streams along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja California...
    
    , Cymatogaster aggregata Gibbons, 1854.
• Genus Ditrema
  • Ditrema temminckii Bleeker
    Pieter Bleeker
    Pieter Bleeker was a Dutch medical doctor and ichthyologist, famous for his work on the fishes of East Asia – Atlas Ichthyologique des Orientales Neerlandaises – which was published 1862–1877....
    
    , 1853.
  • Ditrema viride Oshima, 1955.
• Genus Embiotoca
  • Black perch, Embiotoca jacksoni Agassiz
    Louis Agassiz
    Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
    
    , 1853.
    
  • Striped seaperch, Embiotoca lateralis Agassiz
    Louis Agassiz
    Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
    
    , 1854.
• Genus Hyperprosopon
  • Spotfin surfperch, Hyperprosopon anale Agassiz
    Louis Agassiz
    Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
    
    , 1861.
  • Walleye surfperch, Hyperprosopon argenteum Gibbons, 1854.
  • Silver surfperch
    Silver surfperch
    The silver surfperch Hyperprosopon ellipticum is a surfperch . Other common names include "silver perch" and "shiner".-Description:...
    
    , Hyperprosopon ellipticum (Gibbons, 1854).
• Genus Hypsurus
  • Rainbow seaperch, Hypsurus caryi (Agassiz
    Louis Agassiz
    Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
    
    , 1853).
• Genus Hysterocarpus
  • Tule perch
    Tule perch
    The tule perch Hysterocarpus traskii is a surfperch native to the rivers and estuaries of central California, United States of America. It is the sole member of its genus, and the only freshwater surfperch....
    
    , Hysterocarpus traskii Gibbons, 1854.
• Genus Micrometrus
  • Reef perch, Micrometrus aurora (Jordan
    David Starr Jordan
    David Starr Jordan, Ph.D., LL.D. was a leading eugenicist, ichthyologist, educator and peace activist. He was president of Indiana University and Stanford University.-Early life and education:...
    
     & Gilbert, 1880).
  • Dwarf perch, Micrometrus minimus (Gibbons, 1854).
• Genus Neoditrema
  • Neoditrema ransonnetii Steindachner
    Franz Steindachner
    Franz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
    
    , 1883.
• Genus Phanerodon
  • Sharpnose seaperch, Phanerodon atripes (Jordan
    David Starr Jordan
    David Starr Jordan, Ph.D., LL.D. was a leading eugenicist, ichthyologist, educator and peace activist. He was president of Indiana University and Stanford University.-Early life and education:...
    
     & Gilbert, 1880).
  • White seaperch, Phanerodon furcatus Girard
    Charles Frédéric Girard
    Charles Frédéric Girard was a French biologist specializing in ichthyology and herpetology.Born in Mulhouse, France, he studied at the College of Neuchâtel, Switzerland as a student of Louis Agassiz. In 1847, he accompanied Agassiz as his assistant to Harvard...
    
    , 1854.
• Genus Rhacochilus
  • Rubberlip seaperch, Rhacochilus toxotes Agassiz
    Louis Agassiz
    Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
    
    , 1854.
  • Pile perch, Rhacochilus vacca (Girard
    Charles Frédéric Girard
    Charles Frédéric Girard was a French biologist specializing in ichthyology and herpetology.Born in Mulhouse, France, he studied at the College of Neuchâtel, Switzerland as a student of Louis Agassiz. In 1847, he accompanied Agassiz as his assistant to Harvard...
    
    , 1855).
• Genus Zalembius
  • Pink seaperch, Zalembius rosaceus (Jordan
    David Starr Jordan
    David Starr Jordan, Ph.D., LL.D. was a leading eugenicist, ichthyologist, educator and peace activist. He was president of Indiana University and Stanford University.-Early life and education:...
    
    & Gilbert, 1880).