Asp (Aspius aspius) fish species and information / pictures of Asp - Aspius aspius

Asp (Aspius aspius) fish species information

Scientific Name
Aspius aspius

Common Name
Asp

Biology
Occur in open water of large and medium-sized lowland rivers and large lakes (Ref. 59043). Adults inhabit lower reaches of rivers and estuaries (Ref. 30578). Prefer to stay near bridge pillars, near tributaries, under weirs, in deep currents and overgrown parts of river and in quiet bays of river bends (Ref. 9696). One of the rare cyprinids which is piscivore; also prey on small aquatic birds. Juveniles are gregarious predators while adults hunt in small groups or are solitary. Juveniles and adults feed mainly on fish, especially on Alburnus alburnus or Osmerus eperlanus (Ref. 59043). Migrate upstream in tributaries for spawning in April-June (Ref. 556, 30578). Spawn in fast-flowing water on gravel or submerged vegetation. Lake populations migrate to tributaries; semi-anadromous populations or individuals (Terek) forage mainly in estuaries and freshened p

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Carps (Cypriniformes)

Family

Minnows or carps (Cyprinidae)

Distribution

Region

Europe and Asia

Distribution

Europe and Asia: large rivers draining to North Sea (Weser, Elbe), Baltic Sea (southern tributaries, Norway east of Oslo, southern Sweden, Kokem?ren drainage in southern Finland), Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea; Aegean Sea basin, from Maritza to Lake Volvi drainages. Absent in Black Sea basin south of Danube and Rioni (Georgia) drainages, but present in Turkey west of Ankara. Introduced in Rhine, Northern Dvina and Lake Balkhash (Asia) (Ref. 59043). Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna). Subspecies Aspius aspius iblioides recognized by authors for the Aral Sea (Ref. 13403).

Range

66°N - 35°N, 3°E - 72°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

4 °C

Water Temperature To

20 °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - ? m (Ref. 30578)

Trophic Level

4.46999979019165 s.e. 0.80 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

100.0 cm

Common Length

55.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=3-4; tmax=11; K=0.10-0.33; Fec = 50,000-1 million)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)