Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Percoidei (Perchs) >
Percidae (Perches) > Percinae
Etymology: Gymnocephalus: Greek, gymnos = naked + Greek, kephale = head (Ref. 45335); acerina: acerina is a noun.
More on author: Gmelin.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 10°C - 24°C (Ref. 12468); 53°N - 44°N, 25°E - 27°E
Europe: basins of northern Black Sea and Sea of Azov in Dniester, South Bug, Dniepr, Don rivers and Kuban drainages; in Dniepr up to Belarus. Rare in most of its range.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 14.0, range 12 - 16 cm
Max length : 21.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 19. Distinguished uniquely from its congeners by having roundish dark spots on body, mostly in 3 rows, first below dorsal base, and 50-55 + 4-5 scales along lateral line. Can be further separated from other species of the genus by having 17-19 dorsal spines (Ref. 59043).
Found in flowing waters and lakes with clear water. Also inhabits rapids during summer. Occurs over sand and gravel bottom but prefers hard compact sand. Usually crepuscular but feeds also during daytime. Preys predominantly on benthic invertebrates (crustaceans, insect larvae, molluscs), rarely on fish. Forms small schools. In September, starts forming large schools and moves to deeper places and remains inactive until ice melts. Does not undertake long distance migrations. Spawns in small schools river stretches with heavy current and sand or gravel bottom (Ref.59043).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
"Female lays slightly sticky eggs in several portions: first at 6-8°C, second at 12-14°C. Eggs hatch in 6-8 days at 14-16°C. Newly hatched larvae first lie on bottom; at 9 days (when pectorals are developed), they actively move to middle water layers and drift downstream. At 12 days (6.5mm) they start active feeding on small invertebrates in shallow shoreline habitats" (Ref. 59043).
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 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01047 (0.00465 - 0.02359), b=3.05 (2.86 - 3.24), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.53 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (16 of 100).
