Roach
D-Plötze, Rotauge; GB-Roach; DK-Skalle, gråskalle; PL-Płoć, plotka; LT-Kuoja; LV-Rauda; EST-Särg; RU-Обыкновенная плотва; FIN-Särki, särkien; S-Mört
Characters
1) Upper half of the iris red coloured.
2) Pelvic and dorsal fins originate on the same height.
●) Body often relatively high - depending on the nutrive status.
●) Body uniformly silvern; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins reddish.
Often 20 to 30 cm, max. 40 cm length.
Similar species
Rudd - dorsal fin origin posterior of pelvic fin origin; a row of keeled scales (scutes) between pelvic fins and anal fin; mouth cleft smaller and more steep than in roach.
Ide - usually more slender; smaller scales: 55-61 in lateral line (vs. 39-48 in roach)
Silver bream - Base of anal fin about double the length of base of dorsal fin.
Biology
Lives in stocks in standing or slow-flowing water bodies, often also in estuaries and brackish waters. Highly tolerant against organic water pollution. In spawning season they congregate in big groups in dense submerged vegetation near the littoral zone.Diet
Soft plant material, seldom bottom living organisms.Importance
Commercially of importance for angling, as bait fish and locally as food fisch.Endangerment
Not threatened.Rutilus rutilus
