Rudd

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For other uses of Rudd, please see Rudd (disambiguation).

Rudd
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae Genus: Scardinius Species: S. erythrophthalmus
Binomial name
Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Linneaus, 1758)

The Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) is a small fish, a widespread member of the family Cyprinidae.

The rudd is a bentho-pelagic freshwater fish, widely spread in Europe and middle Asia, around the basins of the North, Baltic Black, Caspian and Aral seas. It has been artificially introduced to Ireland, USA, Morocco, Madagascar, Tunisia, New Zealand, Canada and Spain.

Morphologically, this species is very similar to the Roach (Rutilus rutilus), with which it can be easily confused. It can be identified by eye colour (deep blood-red as opposed to yellow) or counting the soft rays in the dorsal fin (8-9 compared to 10-12). Confusingly, these species can hybridise, producing intermediate forms. The rudd can also hybridise with the carp bream Abramis brama.

In New Zealand and Canada it is considered a pest fish due to impacts on native species.

[edit] References

• Scardinius erythrophthalmus (TSN 163613). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 19 March 2006.
• "Scardinius erythrophthalmus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. November 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.