fishes of switzerland - la maison de la rivière · fishes of switzerland dr jean-franÇois rubin,...
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FISHES OF SWITZERLAND
DR JEAN-FRANÇOIS RUBIN,
Prof HES et Président de la Fondation
Petromizontidae Family
Lack of jaw
Lack of paired fins
Sucking mouth
Semelpares , metamorphosis
± parasites
Lampreys differ from hagfish (myxines) (degenerated eyes , mouth surrounded by 4 pairs of tentacles , 1-16 gill bags)
Naked eellike body, covered with a smooth skin without scales
7 genera, 43 species , 3 in Switzerland (1 extinct)
Acipenseridae Family
Long body with a conelike snout
Cartilaginous skeleton
Heterocercal caudal fin
Lack of scales , covered with bony plates, 4 gill arcs with a spiracle, protractile ventral mouth, benthophage
Long lived, late sexual maturity
23-25 species , 1 in Switzerland (extinct)
Sturgeon, Acipenser sturio (Linnaeus , 1758)
1-2 m long
Ventral mouth (benthophage)
Bony plates instead of scales (height no more than twice width)
Extinct in Switzerland, endangered elsewhere
Anadrome
Lives in the sea -50 m
Migrates in April/May in rivers
Spawns in June/July at 7-9 years for the males and 8-14 years for the females . Reproduction at 2-10 m deep on gravel. Viscid eggs (caviar)
Longevity : 60-100 ans
Anguillidae Family
Long snakelike body
Unique dorsal fin
No scales
1 genus and 18 species , only 1 in Switzerland
Catadromous
Leptocephalic larvae, elver, eel
Spawns in the Sargasses sea at great depth puis drift of the larvae into the Gulf Stream (3 years 4-7000 km)
Eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus , 1758)
Generaly 40-90 cm but up to 1.5 m
Long cylinderlike body with small operculate openings . No pelvic fin.
Photophobic
Feeds on invertebrae and fish
Lives 6-12 years in rivers than migrates . Longevity : upto 50 years
Probably semelpare
High mortality at present due to a parasite nematode (50% population affected)
Large commercial interest
Salmonidae Family
Fusiform body, cycloid scales
Systematics on teeth
Presence of an adipose fin
3 last vertebrae are unusual
Marks on the s ides at the juvenile stage
11 genera and 68 species
Spawn in fresh water during the winter
Need high O2 concentration (5-9 mg/l)
Salmoninae: large mouth, strong teeth, 7 genera and 30 species
Coregoninae: small mouth, weak teeth, 3 genera and 32 species
Thymallinae: small mouth, large dorsal fin, 1 genus and 5 species
Whitefishes , Coregonus sp. (Linnaeus , 1758)
Laterally compressed s ilver white body, pupil forming an angle towards the front
Systematics not clear : a lot of common names. Several ecotypes : gravenche / féra in Lake Geneva, palée / bondelle in lake Neuchâtel, gregarious : summer on the surface, winter in depth
Zooplanctophage
Spawns from November to January in high water.
Eggs s ink to the bottom (succes depends on the O2 conc)
Big restocking effort
Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (Linnaeus , 1758)
1 or 2 large dark spots on the operculum. 11-15 rows of scales between the adipose and the lateral line. Branchiospines in the form of sticks. Looks very much like the trout at the juvenile stage (without the red spots)
Presence of natural magnetite on the lateral line and the head
Up to 1.6 m for 35 kg. Longevity : 14-15 years .
Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Anadromous (strong homing). Several thousand km (upto 40 km/d).
Indigenous to the Rhine basin, several stocking attempts elsewhere.
Fry - parr (1-3 years in fresh water) - smolt (1-3 years in sea) – brood stock fish (hooknose or satellite)
Spawns November to January in rivers on gravel
Brown trout, Salmo trutta (Linnaeus , 1758)
Large caudal fin weakly forked, vomer with lots of teeth
Varied coat, orange border on the adipose fin
Large morphological variability, 50 described species ! In fact only one species with 3 ecomorphologies
Sea trout
River trout
Lake trout
Resident form
Migrating form
Migrating form
Brown trout, Salmo trutta
Anadromous optional : individual migrator or resident (in the Kerguelen is lands , there are 3 ecotypes originating from one introduced strain)
Sexual maturity 2-3 years , spawns from September to February in the river on clean gravel. Demands cold water rich in O2. Important homing.
Longevity : 4-6 years , carnivorous
Large commercial value, numerous restocking programs
Management through restocking and/or renaturation of the stream
Genetic : atlantic form / mediterranean / danubian / « cors ican »
Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)
Oncorhynchus regroups the pacific trouts and salmons
Different characteristics , generally v iolet edge along the lateral line
Anadromous optional
Origin USA, introduced in Europe in France in 1879, in Switzerland in 1887, in Lake Geneva in 1892
Spawns in spring. Can destroy the eggs of indiginous trout in the same spawning ground. Apparently low success of natural breeding (except in Austria and Slovenia)
Intensive farming
Impact on indiginous trout
• Indiginous trout spawns in December
• Rainbow trout spawns on the same grounds but in March
Destruction of indiginous eggs
Salvelinus different from Salmo as scales are smaller + white margin front of the finns. Only the vomer has teeth
Great morphological variability
Mouth upto eye but never beyond (Salvelinus fontinalis : Mouth behind eye)
Artic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus , 1758)
Strictly a lake migrator in Switzerland (sometimes anadromous elsewhere), trapped after the retreat of the glaciers , lake Geneva = southern limit of the natural range. The most northern freshwater fish.
Benthophage, planctophage and ichthyophage. Lives in high and/or deep water.
Longevity : 9-11 years (up to 25 yrs if not captured). 20-40 cm for 200-400 g
Spwans in December on clean gravel. Creation of spawning grounds on trial
Important effort of restocking (introduced in 138 french lakes). Hybridation possible with other salmonids
Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus , 1758)
Grayling, Thymallus thymallus (Linnaeus , 1758)
Fusiform body
Small terminal mouth
Large dorsal finn
Smells of thym
Large scales
Numerous black spots
Eye with an elongated pupil (piriforme)
Grayling, Thymallus thymallus
Large divers ified rivers , high oxygen levels and cool
Lives in groups. Insectivore
Sexual maturity : 2-3 yrs
Longevity : 4-6 yrs , 30-40 cm for 0.5-1 kg
Migrates to spawn. Spawns from May to June in fine gravel. Eclosion of eggs after 20 days . Juveniles remain 8 days under gravel before emerging
Esocidae Family
Elongated fusiform body
Forked tail
Only 1 genus and 5 species
(only 1 in Europe)
Piscivore
Dorsal and anal finn placed opposite
Large teeth in the whole mouth
Predator with a remarkable instant velocity
Sexual maturity at 2-3 years
Spawns in spring
Pike, Esox lucius (Linnaeus , 1758)
Unique dorsal finn remotely placed
Large and flat snout
Cross stripes on the juveniles then oblong spots
Fish over 1 m regularly captured, 15-20 kg
Lives in dense vegetation if poss ible shaded. Quiet waters . Low demands in O2 and T°C
Longevity : 10-14 yrs for males, 20-30 yrs for females
Spawns from February to March in vegetation in shallow water
Larvae fixed in the grasses
Planctophage than ichtyophage
Cyprinidae Family
200 genera and 2000 species = the largest vertebrae family
Only dulcaquicole
Protractile mouth
Many hybridisation possibilities between species
Very prolofic, no parental investment after spawning
Systematics mainly on pharyngien teeth
Organ of Weber (between the inner ear and the air bladder)
Carp, Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus , 1758)
Long and stocky body, covered with ± large scales . Protractile fourbearded mouth. A long dorsal finn and a short anal one. Polymorphic species
Lower parts of rivers , ponds. Low ecological demands
Sexual maturity 2-3 yrs . Spawns from May to July in vegetation. Sometimes upto 2 spawnings /yr
Longevity : 40-50 yrs . Omnivore
Originates from central Asia. Introduced in 1877 in USA. Oldest domesticated species (farmed s ince neolithic age -14 ’000 yrs)
A colonisation of human origin
From the romans to the monks and through the Pope…..
From the Middle-Ages, during the 100 fasting days, one can eat :
• fish
• amphibians
• crayfish and…
• beavers !
Common Bream, Abramis brama (Linnaeus , 1758)
Laterally compressed high body. Caudal finn very indented, inferior lobe longer than superior. Tubercules in the male during spawning
Lower parts of rivers , lakes and eutrophic ponds. Migration during spawning (May-July) towards the grasses. Sexual maturity : 5-7 yrs
30-50 cm upto 5 kg. Longevity : 25 yrs . Benthophage + zooplancton.
Hybrids frequently with roach and rudd
Spirlin, Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782)
Lateral line curved strongly down with rows of black dots. Dark band along the s ides
Lives in groups in the turbulances of fast water. Feeds on drift
10-12 cm
Spawns on stones (May-July)
Gluey eggs
Barbel, Barbus barbus (Linnaeus , 1758)
Fourbearded character. Hydrodynamic form, inferior mouth. Uniform colour, unmarbled. Orange paired finns, strong dorsal finn
Largest barbel, females much larger. 30-60 cm for 5-7 kg. Longevity : 25 yrs . Gregarious . Sex.mat. : 4-5 yrs for males, 7-8 yrs for females . Spawns on radiers in May-July. Anadromous .
Lives in the fast waters of plain rivers , shelters in the embacles , stony beds
Originates from the Danube. Systematics in mutation. Fertile hybrids possible with other barbels . Omnivorous .
Gold fish, Carass ius auratus (Linnaeus , 1758)
Looks like a small fat carp, larger but not as high as the crucian carp. Various coats . No black spot at the base of the caudal finn
Many domestic forms have been released outdoors .
Low ecological demands. Stands eutrophic waters .
Planctophage and vegetarian. Can induce important turbidity in the water. Communication trough pheromones .
Ornemental form created in China around year 1000.
Spawns March to June
The Gold fish in Europe …
A woman’s fancy …….
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, demands the
same gift from King Louis XV
In the Arabian Nights , Sheherazade receives a golden fish from one of her lovers ...
1730 en France
Gudgeon, Gobio gobio (Linnaeus , 1758)
Long body, thick snout, subterminal mouth, twobearded. Polymorphic species . Tubercules in the male during mating
Grayling, barbel and bream areas. Clear waters on gravel or sandy beds
Great variability. Sexual maturity 2-4 yrs . Spawns April-July when temperature is over 15°C, fractionned multiple spawning, gluey eggs on vegetation
8-15 cm for 200 g. Longevity : 5-70 yrs .
Gregarious . Benthophage
Minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus , 1758)
Long cylindrical body
Green olive colour except during spawning (male with colours and tubercules)
Lives in clear waters in trout areas. Gregarious . 6-14 cm.
Sexual maturity 1-3 yrs . Spawns April-July only on clean gravel with high O2 levels
Omnivore opportunist. Longevity : 3-6 yrs . Can secrete pheromones (alarm substances)
Bitterling, Rhodeus amarus (Pallas , 1776)
Small s ize. Incomplete lateral line. Blue-green band on the s ides . During spawning periods , males are iridescent pink and violet. Dark spot behind the opercules
Lives in quiet waters
Sexual maturity at 1 yr . Lays eggs in anodonta in April-August. Male then defends the mussel
Phytophage. Longevity 2-3 yrs
5-6 cm for10 g. One of the smallest cyprinids of Europe.
Roach, Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus , 1758)
Slender body, dorsal finn level with the pelvic finns. Little colouring of the finns. Tubercules in the males during spawning. Red eyes .
The most widespread Cyprinidae. Gregairious . Vector of many parasites . Still waters in vegetation, then in free flowing water.
Sexual maturity 2-3 yrs for males, 3-4 yrs for females . Spawns April-June in vegetation (possible sex invers ion with ageing : M-F).
Many hybrids , complexe systematics .
Omnivore. Fodder fish. 20-30 cm for 0.4-1 kg
Tench, Tinca tinca (Linnaeus , 1758)
Rounded body, many small scales . Terminal mouth with a fine beard. Olive colour
Several farmed varieties
Gregarious , lives in the vegetation, in quiet and warm waters
Low ecological demands (O2). Hibernates under the mud
Sexual maturity : 3-4 yrs . Spawns May-October. Gluey eggs
Benthophage. Longevity : 10 yrs
15-30 cm for 1-2 kg
Origin Estern Europe, voluntary introduction in the Middle-Ages.
Cobitidae Family
Loach family
Very long body, cylindrical, naked or covered with very small scales
Inferior mouth at least threebearded
No maxillary teeth but pharyngien ones
Many asian species , 12 species in Europe, 3 in Switzerland
Groundling (loach), Barbatula barbatula (Linnaeus , 1758)
Three pairs of barbels . Dark irregular mottling. No infra-orbital spine
Lives in small streams in trout and barbel areas. Clear and cool water. Often hidden under rocks
Benthophage. 10-12 cm. Longevity : 5-6 yrs
Sexual maturity at 1 yr. Spawns April to June in gravel and macrophytes
Most common of the 3 species
Wels Catfish (Sheatfish), Silurus glanis (Linnaeus , 1758)
Body without scales , 3 pairs of barbels .
Only 1 genus in Europe with 2 species (S. aristotelis in Greece only).
Lives in quiet cloudy water. Low eyesight but developped acoustic detection.
The largest european freshwater fish : upto 3 m for 250 kg. Carnivorous opportunist.
Sexual maturity 3-5 yrs . Spawns only if T ≥ 20°C on roots cleared by the male. Incubation under male’s safekeeping.
Originally, an East european fish present upto the Rhine only. Introduced in 1857 in the french Rhône. Present in Verbois s ince 2003 !
Siluridae
Catfish, Ictalurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820)
Ictaluridae
Posterior s ide of adipose finn is free
Spiny ray on the dorsal finn
Lives in quiet eutrophic waters
Spawns June-July when T = 20°C . Female digs a nest in sandy bed. Parents safeguard the nest. Nocturnal. Communicate through pheromones .
Sexual maturity 3 yrs , longevity : 6-7 yrs
Omnivore opportunist. Can withstand very low O2 concentration. Subject to viral or bacterial infections (only population regulation factor)
Origin North America, introduced in Europe in 1871
Roving catfish
A valve problem at the Natural History museum in Paris…..
S ince 1901, Ministry of water and forest management « one can introduce it everywhere as it is the only fish to survive in polluted waters … »
In Geneva, following a
gastronomical dinner ...
Burbot, Lota lota (Linnaeus , 1758) Gadidae
Only representative of the cod family (60 species , only 1 in fresh water)
1 barbel under the chin, 2 dorsal finns, the second being very long
Lives in large rivers and lakes
Benthic nocturnal
Predator of large invertebraes , of fish and of eggs
Sexual maturity : 1-3 yrs . Spawns in winter
Species from the Rhine basin that colonised the Rhône through the Entreroche canal
Three spine stickleback,Gasterosteus aculeatus (Linnaeus , 1758)
Gasterosteidae
Small fish with a thin caudal peduncle. 3 dorsal spines and pelvic finns well developped, plates (1-25) instead of scales
Spawns in spring at T max 15°C
Complexe spawning behaviour. Creation of a nest by the male who safeguards it. Several spawns by the same female through the season. Female twice the s ize of the male
Lives in fresh water or the sea. Cannibal and inverterbrates . Sexual maturity : 1-2 yrs . Longevity : 4 yrs
Rhine basin. Introduced in the Rhône near S ierre
Percidae Family
Perch family
10 genera and 162 species
2 dorsal finns (1s t with spikes, 2nd with soft rays)
Ctenoid scales
Perch, Perca fluviatilis (Linnaeus , 1758)
3 species , only 1 in Europe
2 twin dorsal fins. Strong spine on the opercule. Green colour with darker stripes
Large rivers or lakes. In the summer on the edges at low depth, in the winter in the open deeper areas
Sexual maturity : 2 yrs for males, 3-4 yrs for females
Growth in function of the temperature and the eutrophisation, 20-35 cm, 2-4 kg
Benthophage, then ichthyophage
Spawns May-June in the grasses. Eggs in ribbons on vegetation