[surf-purch] 
) -perch, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) -perch⋅es. | any of several fishes of the family Embiotocidae, inhabiting shallow waters along the Pacific coast of North America. |
| surf·perch (sûrf'pûrch') n. pl. surfperch or surf·perch·es Any of various viviparous marine fishes of the family Embiotocidae, found in shallow waters along the North American Pacific coast. Also called surf fish. |
surfperch
any of 23 species of fishes of the family Embiotocidae (order Perciformes). Surfperches are found in the North Pacific Ocean; two species are native to Japanese waters, but all others are confined to the North American coast, mostly off California. One species, the tule perch (Hysterocarpus traski), inhabits freshwater, but most of the others live in surf along beaches. All saltwater species are unusual among marine fishes in giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs
Learn more about surfperch with a free trial on Britannica.com.