Golden mandarin fish

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]

Golden mandarin fish
Yellow (foreground) and speckled (behind) individuals
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Centrarchiformes
Family:	Sinipercidae
Genus:	Siniperca
Species:	S. scherzeri
Binomial name
Siniperca scherzeri Steindachner, 1892
Synonyms[2]
Siniperca scherzeri scherzeri Steindachner, 1892 Siniperca chui P. W. Fang & L. T. Chong, 1932 Siniperca scherzeri chui P. W. Fang & L. T. Chong, 1932 Siniperca kwangsiensis P. W. Fang & L. T. Chong, 1932 Siniperca scherzeri kwangsiensis P. W. Fang & L. T. Chong, 1932 Siniperca schezeri kichuani H. J. Shih, 1937 Siniperca kichuani H. J. Shih, 1937

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]