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Leuciscus aspius  (Linnaeus, 1758)

Asp
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Leuciscus aspius
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Slovenia country information

Common names: Bolen
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Population has declined due to pollution and river regulation. Conservation measures include artificial propagation (Ref. 90061). Status of threat: endangered (Ref. 90061).
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/si.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Povz, M., 1996
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Cypriniformes (Carps) > Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Leuciscinae
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

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).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

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 parts of the sea, migrating to rivers only for spawning. Begins spawning migration in second half of October (Terek) and overwinters in the lower reaches of river. Hybridizes with Leuciscus idus. Threatened due to alteration of river morphology (Ref. 59043).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Threat to humans

  Harmless



Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

More information

Age/Size
Growth
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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
4.5   ±0.80 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
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 (Ref. 59153)
High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100)
Price category (Ref. 80766)
Unknown