Scardinius hesperidicus Bonaparte, 1845
Scardinius hesperidicus
photo by Hartl, A.

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Leuciscinae
Max. size:  40 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 15 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Adriatic and Tyrrhenian basins in Slovenia, Italy, and Switzerland. Most likely only native to Po drainage and Adriatic rivers east of Po. Widely introduced in Italy.
Diagnosis:  Distinguished from its congeners in Mediterranean basin by the combination of the following characters: 36-39 + 2-3 scales along lateral line; anal fin with 10-12½ branched rays; dorsal head profile straight or slightly convex; snout pointing forward, tip at or slightly above level of middle eye; back not humped behind nape; eye not close to dorsal head profile when viewed laterally; articulation of lower jaw in front of anterior margin of eye; head profile lacking conspicuous angle of articulation of lower jaw; head length 24-27% SL; body depth 35-39% SL; caudal peduncle depth 11-12% SL; and all fins dark grey in adults larger than 10 cm SL (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Occurs in well vegetated lowland rivers, backwaters, oxbows, ponds, and lakes. Feeds mainly on macrophytes and terrestrial insects. Spawns on submerged plants when temperature rises above 18° C. May form locally hybrid populations with introduced Scardinius erythrophthalmus. Attains a maximum size of up to about 40 cm SL (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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