Classification / Names
Common names from other countries
Main reference
Size / Weight / Age
Max length : 120 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35387); common length : 55.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30578); max. published weight: 9.0 kg (Ref. 556); max. reported age: 11 years (Ref. 40480)
Length at first maturity
Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - ? m (Ref. 30578)
Climate / Range
Temperate; 4°C - 20°C (Ref. 2059), preferred ?; 66°N - 35°N, 3°E - 72°E
Distribution
Europe and Asia: large rivers draining to North Sea (Weser, Elbe), Baltic Sea (southern tributaries, Norway east of Oslo, southern Sweden, Kokemären 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). The subspecies Aspius aspius iblioides was previously recognized by authors for the Aral Sea (Ref. 13403).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions
Short description
Dorsal
spines
(total): 3;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 7-9;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 12 - 15. The only species of Aspius in Europe which can be diagnosed from other species of Cyprinidae in Europe by the following characters: anal fin with 12-14½ branched rays; scales on lateral line 64-76; maxilla extending beyond front margin of eye; and sharp keel between pelvic-fin and anal-fin origins covered by scales (Ref. 59043). Long shape body, laterally compressed with a long sharp head. Green back with silver to blue tints. Lighter flanks. Silver white belly. Pectoral, pelvic and anal fins grey to brown. Scale formula: 11-14/64-76/5-6 (Ref. 40476).
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)
Trophic Level
4.5 ±0.80 se; Based on food items.
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)
Vulnerability
High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100)
Price category