The name Percichthyidae derives from the Latin perca for perch and Ancient Greek ἰχθύς, ichthys for fish.

Another fossil percichthyid, Percichthys lonquimayiensis from Chile, was initially dated to the Paleocene, but further studies have found it to be from the Miocene.

[5] Australia has the greatest number of percichthyid species, where they are represented by the Australian freshwater cods (Maccullochella spp.

This in contrast to Europe and Asia, whose fish faunas are dominated by members of the Cyprinidae carp family.

Some smaller species (e.g. Balston's pygmy perch, Nannatherina balstoni) are popular in aquaria.