Tench (Tinca tinca) fish species and information / pictures of Tench - Tinca tinca

Tench (Tinca tinca) fish species information

Scientific Name
Tinca tinca

Common Name
Tench

Biology
Typically found in shallow, densely vegetated lakes and backwaters. Often overwinters buried in mud. Larvae and juveniles confined to dense vegetation. Adults inhabit warm lakes and pools with weed and mud bottom. Tolerates low oxygen saturations. Feeds on detritus, benthic animals and plant materials. Adult often prey mainly on molluscs. Spawns among dense vegetation in still water. Used as a fodder fish for bass. Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled, and baked. Popular with amateur sport fishers. Its flesh is highly esteemed. Locally under threat due to river engineering. Reported to reach a maximum length of 84 cm TL.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Carps (Cypriniformes)

Family

Minnows or carps (Cyprinidae)

Distribution

Region

Eurasia

Distribution

Eurasia: hypothesized as native in most Europe, naturally absent only in Ireland, Scandinavia north of 61?30'N, eastern Adriatic basin and western and southern Greece where it is now introduced. In Asia, native eastward to western Yenisei drainage south of 60? N. Introduced elsewhere.

Range

64°N - 36°N, 10°W - 104°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

4 °C

Water Temperature To

24 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous ; depth range 1 - ? m

Trophic Level

3.49 s.e. 0.49 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

70.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 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; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (65 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2; tmax=10; Fec=120,000-800,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)