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Which regions have the greatest variety of perciform fishes?

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Bluefin tuna swimming underwater in a group, with silvery bodies and streamlined shapes, near Japan. — perciform Bluefin tuna (*Thunnus thynnus orientalis*) in the waters near Japan.

The Indo-West Pacific region is considered to have the greatest variety of perciform fishes in the world.1

While perciforms are a highly successful group found globally in both marine and freshwater environments, they are most abundant in the coastal areas of tropical and temperate regions. Specifically, the coral reefs of tropical seas are noted for their high diversity of these fishes, including species such as wrasses, butterfly fishes, and damselfishes.21

Additionally, perciforms demonstrate significant regional adaptation:
* Antarctic: Approximately 75 percent of the local fish fauna belong to this order, including specialized icefishes.1
* Freshwater: Families such as cichlids are widely distributed across India, Africa, and South America, while perches and sunfishes are prominent in North America and Europe.1