Chub

D-Döbel, Aitel; GB-Chub; DK-Døbel; PL-Kleń; LT-Šapalas; LV-Sapals; EST-Turb; RU-Голавль; FIN-Turpa; S-Färna

Characters

1) Mouth terminal, mouth opening long almost reaching under eye.
2) Outer edge of anal fin curved distinctly outwards.
●) Body elongated and almost round in diameter, especially in older animals head very broad.
●) Body golden with a dark net marking, back darker, abdomen lighter coloured; pelvic and anal fins reddish.
Often 30 to 40 cm, max. 70 cm length.

Similar species

Grass carp - upper margin of dorsal fin curved outwards; margin of anal fin straight; mouth slightly inferior.

Ide - small steeply inclined mouth; scales smaller: 55 to 61 in lateral line (vs. 44 to 46 in chub).

Dace - mouth very short and slightly inferior; maring of anal fin curved inwards.

Biology

Lives near the surface in large, flowing waters, but relatively undemanding regarding its environment and thus occurs also in lower reaches and lakes.

Diet

Younger individuals feed mainly on invertebrates; becoming larger they feed on smaller fish and even small mammals and frogs.

Importance

As food fish commercially of no importance, but popular as angling fish.

Endangerment

Presumably not endangered.