The Book of Drawings. Animal research/ Perch and Water Vole

The Perch or Perca Fluviatilis is a fairly small fresh water fish that is native to England. They can be found in rivers lakes and ponds but prefer clear water. Although they are often quite small they can grow up to be over 30cm in length. They can be identified by their colouration which is often green with stripes running down their sides, sometimes with red accents on their fins. There Perch’s most notable feature is its spiny dorsal fin which it can used for protection, they also swim in small shoals for the same reason.

Perch or Perca Fluviatilis

The only mammal on this list is the water Vole or Arvicola terrestris. They are most commonly spotted around rivers and streams but sometimes travel to large ponds. They can grow to be over 30cm long from nose to tail tip. They share a lot of visual similarities with their close Rat cousins. Unlike their rat relatives they are very hard to find in the wild. They have been hunted to extinction in some parts of the UK, due to the introduction of the Mink. 

Vole or Arvicola Terrestris