Pelecus cultratus

Pelecus cultratus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Genus:	Pelecus Agassiz, 1835
Species:	P. cultratus
Binomial name
Pelecus cultratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms [2]
Clupea ziga Wulff, 1765 Cyprinus cultratus Linnaeus, 1758

Pelecus cultratus, known variously as the sichel, the ziege, the sabre carp or sabrefish, is a species of cyprinid fish from an Eastern Europe and adjacent Asian regions. It is the only species of its genus. This species inhabits lower reaches of rivers and brackish waters of eastern Baltic, Black, Caspian and Aral Sea basins. This fish has no major threats and the IUCN lists it as being of "Least Concern".^[1]

Description

The ziege resembles a large Baltic herring in appearance. It grows to about 25 to 40 cm (10 to 16 in) in length. It has a keel on its belly which from the side looks curved while the back is almost straight. It has an upturned snout and the tip of the lower jaw also slopes steeply upwards. The lateral line is wavy and very low down the flank. The pectoral fin is long and pointed. This is a pale, silvery fish with almost colourless fins.^[3]

Distribution

The ziege can be found in waters of the Baltic states and Eastern Europe.^[4] It can also be found in other European and Asian countries such as Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. It usually swims near the surface in estuaries and lakes and some populations live permanently in rivers and streams.^[1][3]

Biology

This fish feeds on zooplankton, swimming invertebrates such as crustaceans, small fish and floating insects. It breeds in May and June, travelling up-river to find suitable open water locations. It sometimes breeds in brackish water, for example in the Gulf of Finland. The eggs float, and in rivers, drift with the current. They hatch after about three to four days. After spawning, the migratory fish return to estuaries to feed.^[1]

References

• Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). "Pelecus cultratus" in FishBase. April 2012 version.

Carp
Carp groups	Cyprinidae (the carp family) Asian carp
True carp species	African carp Bighead carp Black carp Carnatic carp Common carp (European carp) Chinese mud carp Crucian carp Deccan white carp Fringed-lipped peninsula carp Goldfish Grass carp Hora white carp Koi Mud carp Pigmouth carp Predatory carp Prussian carp Siamese mud carp Silver carp Smallscale mud carp Krishna Carp Siamese mud carp Japanese crucian carp Giant salmon carp Mirror carp Siamese giant carp Nile carp Sabre carp
Other carp species	Sea carp
Diseases	Carp lice Koi herpes virus Spring viraemia of carp
Recreational fishing	Carp fishing Redmire pool Chod rig Hair rig Yateley Complex Boilie Eliburn Reservoir
Carp anglers	Rod Hutchinson Richard Walker Chris Yates
As food	Fisherman's soup Kuai Taramosalata
Related topics	Benson Total Carp Carp streamers The Adventures of Little Carp Daughterless carp Aquaculture in China Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences Koi pond Goldfish pond