Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Leuciscidae (Minnows) > Leuciscinae
Etymology: Chondrostoma: Greek, chondros = cartilage + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335). Name referring to the characteristic horny layer on the lower lip (Ref. 57917).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic. Temperate
Europe and Asia: Capian basin, in Emba, Ural and Volga drainages (with Oka and Kama); Black Sea basin, in Don drainage.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1441); max. reported age: 7 years (Ref. 59043)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Diagnosed from congeners in Black and Caspian Sea basins by having straight or slightly arched mouth, 9½ branched dorsal rays, 50-62 scales on lateral line, usually 10½ branched anal rays, and large eye, diameter 50-65% of interorbital distance (Ref. 59043).
Occurs in lowland and piedmont rivers with moderate to strong current and in reservoirs. Commonly found in river main courses in rapids, sandy shallows and river curves. Larvae and juveniles with superior mouth prey on small invertebrates. After 3-4 months, juveniles measuring about 3-3.5 cm SL change to adult feeding mode and graze benthic diatoms and detritus from hard substrate in habitats with strong currents. Breeds on gravel or rock bottom in shallow riffles of larger rivers or in smaller tributaries with moderate to strong current. Most of the year in the middle and upper stretches of rivers, moves to lower stretches or to larger tributaries during winter. Deposits sticky eggs which adhere to gravel. (Ref. 59043).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol and Freyhof, Berlin. 646 pp. (Ref. 59043)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00813 (0.00374 - 0.01767), b=3.10 (2.92 - 3.28), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.5 ±0.1 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (25 of 100).
