Squalius squalus

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Squalius squalus
Squalius squalus - ZooKeys-53-045-g006.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Leuciscinae
Genus: Squalius
Species:
S. squalus
Binomial name
Squalius squalus
(Bonaparte, 1837)
Synonyms

Leuciscus squalusBonaparte, 1837

Squalius squalus, commonly known as the Italian chub, or the chubius chub or cavedano, is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family Cyprinidae. It is native to southeastern Europe being found in Italy, Switzerland and the former Yugoslavia.

Contents

Description

Adult specimen of Squalius squalus Squalius squalus adult.jpg
Adult specimen of Squalius squalus

Squalius squalus can grow to a maximum length that exceed 60 cm (24 in) and 3 kg (6.5 lb), and has been known to live for fifteen years. [2] It has a long head, a large eye with an orange-tinged iris, a pointed snout, a long, slightly curved, obliquely sloping mouth cleft, a projecting upper jaw and a lower jaw that is shorter or equal in length to the depth of the caudal peduncle. The color of this fish is brownish or bronze and the scales do not easily become detached. The pectoral, pelvic and anal fins are greyish, and this is the main distinctive character with Squalius cephalus , which pelvic and anal fins are orange-tinged or reddish. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Squalius squalus, Tuscany Squalius squalus 2.jpg
Squalius squalus, Tuscany

Squalius squalus is native to Italy, Switzerland, France (Var river), and the rivers which flow into the Adriatic sea of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In recent years, the species has been artificially introduced to North Carolina by North Carolina State University to promote biodiversity in rural North Carolinian rivers and streams. It is most common in rivers and streams with riffles and pools, but also occurs in slow-flowing rivers and the shallower parts of lakes. [1]

Biology

Juvenile Squalius squalus are gregarious and are found in the shallows of streams, rivers and lakes. They feed on a variety of plant and animal materials. Larger individuals are solitary and the largest mainly feed on fish. [2] Sexual maturity is reached in the second year of life in both sexes and breeding takes place between April and July. A study found that among juveniles and young fish, males preponderated but this changed with advancing age and among fish over the age of six, all were female. [4] The males congregate in spawning grounds such as gravelly areas at the edges of lakes, shallow riffles or fast-flowing water. The females hollow out depressions in which they shed their sticky eggs which are then fertilised by the males. This species can hybridise with Alburnus arborella and Alburnus albidus . [2]

Status

The IUCN has listed this species as being of "Least Concern" on the basis that it has a wide range, is abundant within that range and no particular threats have been identified. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Squalius cephalus</i> Species of fish

The common chub, also known as the European chub or simply chub, is a species of European freshwater ray-finned fish in the carp family Cyprinidae, that frequents both slow and moderate rivers, as well as canals, lakes and still waterbodies of various kinds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common dace</span> Species of ray-finned fish

The common dace is a species of freshwater and brackish water ray-finned fish from the family Cyprinidae which is native to Europe but which has been introduced to other parts of the world. It is a quarry species for coarse anglers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common bleak</span> Species of fish

The common bleak is a small freshwater coarse fish of the cyprinid family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiselmouth</span> Species of fish

The chiselmouth is an unusual cyprinid fish of western North America. It is named for the sharp hard plate on its lower jaw, which is used to scrape rocks for algae. It is the sole member of the monotypic genus Acrocheilus and is a close relative of the Gila western chubs, and is known to hybridise with Ptychocheilus oregonensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California roach</span> Species of fish

The California roach is a cyprinid fish native to western North America and abundant in the intermittent streams throughout central California. Once considered the sole member of its genus, it has recently been split into a number of closely related species and subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern leatherside chub</span> Species of fish

The northern leatherside chub is a cyprinid fish of western North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danube bleak</span> Species of fish

The Danube bleak or Caspian shemaya is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found in Iran, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Slovakia, Moldova, Greece, Czechia, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Afghanistan, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Squalius aradensis is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae, growing to 13 cm (5.1 in) SL. It is endemic to Portugal where it is found in only three river basins: Arade, Algibre, and Bordeira basins. It is threatened by water extraction, drought, and introduction of exotic fish species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hornyhead chub</span> Species of fish

The hornyhead chub is a small species of minnow in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It mainly inhabits small rivers and streams of the northern central USA, up into Canada. The adults inhabit faster, rocky pools of rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Headwater chub</span> Species of fish

The headwater chub is a species of fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found in Arizona and New Mexico.

<i>Alburnus arborella</i> Species of fish

Alburnus arborella is a species of ray-finned fish in the carp family Cyprinidae. It is a freshwater fish occurring in lakes and streams in Europe. It is distributed in Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

Alburnus doriae is a species of cyprinid fish from Iran. It was previously thought to be restricted to central Iran, but recent research shows that it is more widespread and that Alburnus amirkabiri and Petroleuciscus esfahani are probably synonyms of Alburnus doriae.

The river chub is a minnow in the family Cyprinidae. It is one of the most common fishes in North American streams.

<i>Mylocheilus caurinus</i> Species of fish

Mylocheilus caurinus, the peamouth, peamouth chub, redmouth sucker or northwestern dace, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the family Cyprinidae, the carps and minnows, that is found in western North America. It is the only species in its genus.

<i>Squalius janae</i> Species of fish

Squalius janae, commonly known as the Istrian chub, is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family Cyprinidae. It was first described in 2010 from the Dragonja River drainage in Slovenia. Since then they have also been found in the Boljunčica and Pazinčica river drainages in Istria, Croatia.

<i>Zacco platypus</i>

The pale chub, also known as pale bleak or fresh-water sprat, is one of the most extensively distributed Asiatic cyprinids and is found in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and most of Southeast China. This species of fish is native to freshwater rivers and mountainous streams from northern China and Korea to northern Vietnam. They can grow up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) but usually grow to 13 centimetres (5.1 in). Its diet consists of zooplankton, invertebrates, fish, and debris. It is an invasive species in Taiwan. Zacco platypus is called Oikawaオイカワ(追河、Opsariichthys platypus) in Japan.

<i>Squalius valentinus</i> Species of fish

Squalius valentinus, commonly known as the Valencia chub and the Levantine bagra, is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family Cyprinidae. It was first isolated from the Turia River in Valencia, hence its name. It is considered endangered. This species is differentiated from its cogenerates by having eight branched rays in its dorsal fin; eight branched rays in its anal fin; two rows of pharyngeal teeth on both sides possessing 2 and 5 teeth ; a wide caudal peduncle; its number of gill rakers; the number of scales in its lateral line; the number of scale rows above the latter; by possessing three scale rows below it; by having thirty-nine vertebrae ; showing large 4th and 5th infraorbital bones; a maxilla with a very distinct marked anterior process; exhibiting a frontal bone expanded at the middle; a wide neurocranium bone; the lower branch of the pharyngeal bone being robust; a large and narrow urohyal; as well as genetic differences (allozymes).

Squalius malacitanus, commonly known as the Málaga chub, is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family Cyprinidae. It was first isolated from the Guadalmina River in Málaga, hence its name. It is considered a vulnerable species. S. malacitanus differs from its cogenerate species by having 7–8 branched rays in its dorsal fin, 8 branched rays in the anal lateral line; the number of scale rows above its lateral line; possessing 3 scale rows below its lateral line; 38 vertebrae, 21 abdominal, and 17 caudal; large fourth and fifth infraorbital bones; maxilla without a pointed anterior process; the middle of its frontal bone being narrow, as well as its neurocranium bone; the lower branch of its pharyngeal bone is rather long; and the shortness of the inferior lamina of its urohyal bone.

Galaxias arcanus, the riffle galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.

Galaxias oliros, the obscure galaxias, is a galaxiid of the genus Galaxias, a member of the Mountain Galaxias species complex group of freshwater fish, found in Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Freyhof, J. (2011). "Squalius squalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T135619A4163501. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T135619A4163501.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Squalius squalus" in FishBase . January 2014 version.
  3. Zupančič, Primož; Mrakovčić, Milorad; Marčić, Zoran; Naseka, Alexander M.; Bogutskaya, Nina G. (2010). "Identity of Squalius (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) from Istra Peninsula in Croatia (Adriatic Sea basin)". ZooKeys (53): 45–58. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.53.472 . PMC   3088033 . PMID   21594132.
  4. Lorenzoni, M.; Carosi, A.; . Pedicillo, G.; Pompei, L.; Rocchini, M. (2011). "Reproductive properties of the chub Squalius squalus (Bonaparte, 1837) in the Assino Creek (Umbria, Italy)". Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems. 403 (9): 09. doi: 10.1051/kmae/2011069 .