Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Percidae (Perches) > Percinae
Etymology: Gymnocephalus: Greek, gymnos = naked + Greek, kephale = head (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; brackish; demersal; pH range: 7.0 - 7.5; dH range: 8 - 12; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - ? m (Ref. 9696). Temperate; 10°C - 20°C (Ref. 13371); 74°N - 43°N, 6°W - 169°E

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 10.5 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 556); common length : 12.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 556); max. published weight: 400 g (Ref. 556); max. reported age: 10 years (Ref. 59043)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-16; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 5 - 6; Vertebrae: 35 - 36. Distinguished uniquely from its congeners by its body depth 24-27% SL. Differs further from other members of the genus by the combination of having a flank yellowish with numerous, small, irregular, dark blotches and having 11-16 dorsal spines (Ref. 59043). Caudal fin with 16 to 17 rays (Ref. 40476). Dorsal fins are fused. Color brownish with dark spots (Ref. 35388).

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions | Faunafri

Europe: Caspian, Black, Baltic and North Sea basins; Great Britain; north to about 69° N in Scandinavia. Asia: Aral Sea basin, Arctic Ocean basin eastward to Kolyma drainage. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Inhabits eutrophic lakes, lowland and piedmont rivers. Most abundant in estuaries of large rivers, brackish lakes with salinities up to 10-12 ppt and reservoirs. In general, its abundance increases with increased eutrophication (Ref. 59043). Reported to prefer still or slow-flowing water with soft bottom and without vegetation (Ref. 59043) and deep water with deposits of sand and gravel (Ref. 9696). Can tolerate some degradation of the environment (Ref. 30578). Can co-exist in deep lakes with Perca fluviatilis. Both species partly occur at different depths with Gymnocephalus cernua being more abundant in deeper layers (Ref. 59043). The membranous external walls of the head canals of this species provide high directional sensitivity; can feed at night in the dark using the lateral line system; feeds on zooplankton, chironomids, oligochaetes and amphipods (Ref. 10999). Pelagic in coastal lakes and tidal estuaries, preying on zooplankton and fish. Spawns on a variety of substrates at depths of about 3 m or less (Ref. 59043). White to yellow eggs in sticky strands are found on rocks and weed in shallow water (Ref. 41678). Used as bait for pike (Ref. 6258). Females live up to 10 year while males up to 7 years (Ref. 59043).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol, Switzerland. 646 p.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Potential pest

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually

FAO(fisheries: production; publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00960 (-0.01064 - 0.02985), b=3.00 (2.99 - 3.01), based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 3.4 ±0.3 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.1-0.48; tm=1-2).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): High vulnerability (58 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Gymnocephalus cernua (Linnaeus, 1758)