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Common dace
Leuciscus leuciscus
The Genus is the rank between Family and Species
Leuciscus is a Genus of fish in the Cyprinidae Family
Maximum size 400 mm (15 3/4 in) long,
Maximum published weight 1 kg (2.2 lb)
Maximum reported age 16 years
Kingdom Animalia (animals)
Phylum Chordata (vertebrates and several closely related invertebrates)
Class Actinopterygii, (ray-finned fishes)
Order Cypriniformes, (carps)
Family Cyprinidae, (Minnows or carps)
Genus Leuciscus
Species Leuciscus leuciscus
Also known as Common dace,
Graining
The Family Cyprinidae, named after the Greek word Kypris, another name for Aphrodite, consists of the carps and some of the fish known as minnows.
Characteristics
The fish in this family originate from North America, Africa and Eurasia. The largest fish in this family is the Giant Barb (Catlocarpio siamensis), which may grow up to 3 m (10 ft). The largest North American species is Ptychocheilus lucius. On the other hand, many species are smaller than 50mm (2 in); the smallest freshwater fish is, in fact, a cypriniform, Danionella translucida, reaching 12 mm at the longest. All fish in this family are egg-layers and the breeding habits of most is one of non-guarding of the eggs, however, there are a few species that build nests and/or guard the eggs.
Economic significance
Cyprinids are highly important food fish; they are fished and farmed across Eurasia. In land-locked countries in particular, cyprinids are often the major species of fish eaten, although the prevalance of inexpensive frozen fish products made this less important now than it was in earlier times. Nonetheless, in certain places they remain popular for food as well as recreational fishing, and have been deliberately stocked in ponds and lakes for centuries for this reason.
Several cyprinids have been quite introduced to waters outside their natural range to provide food, sport, or biological control for some pest species. The carp and the grass carp are the most important of these, for example in Florida. In some cases, these have become invasive species that compete with native fishes or disrupt the environment, carp in particular can stir up the riverbed reducing the clarity of the water making it difficult for plants to grow.
Numerous cyprinids have become important in the aquarium hobby, most famously the goldfish, which was first imported into Europe around 1728 but was cultivated by the Chinese well before then. Other popular cyprinids kept in aquarium include the barbs, danios and rasboras.
The Common Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus) is a freshwater or brackish fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae, also known as the Dare or the Dart. It is an inhabitant of the rivers and streams of Europe north of the Alps as well as in Asia, but it is most abundant in those of France and Germany, as well as having spread to Ireland where it is used as a bait fish. It will grow to a maximum length of 15¾ inches (400 mm), a maximum weight of 2.2 lb (1 kg), and may live for up to 16 years.
The Common Dace natively lives in a temperate climate and prefers water with a 6.0 to 8.0 pH and an ideal temperature range of 39 to 72 °F (4 to 22 °C). It prefers clear streams flowing over a gravelly bottom, and deep, still water, keeping close to the bottom in winter but disporting itself near the surface, in the sunshine of summer. It is preyed upon by the larger predaceous fishes of fresh waters, and owing to its silvery appearance is a favorite bait in pikefishing. Its flesh is wholesome and is sometimes caught for food, but is not held in much estimation. While typically a freshwater fish, the Dace enters brackish waters in the eastern Baltic Sea.
The Dace is a lively, active fish, of gregarious habits, and exceedingly prolific, depositing its pale yellow eggs in the spring at the roots of aquatic plants or in the gravelly beds of the shallow, flowing streams it frequents. It poses a risk as a potential pest in some areas. In appearance it closely resembles the Roach in both size and shape, with the head and back of a dusky blue color and the sides of a shining silvery aspect, with numerous dark lines running along the course of the scales. The ventral and anal fins are white, tinged with pale red,; and the dorsal, pectoral and caudal tipped with black. The dace feeds on worms, insects, insect-larvae, snails, and also rarely on vegetable matter.
In the United States, the name of dace is also applied to members of other genera of the family; the horned dace (Semnotilus atromaculatus) is a well-known variety.
Environment:
benthopelagic;
Living and feeding near the bottom as well as in midwaters or near the surface. Feeding on benthic as well as free swimming organisms. Many freshwater fish are opportunistic feeders that forage on the bottom as well as in midwater and near the surface, also pertaining to forms which hover or swim just over the bottom
potamodromous;
Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers.
Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
Depth range - 1 m
pH range: 6 - 8 ;
Climate: temperate; 4 - 22°C; 72°N - 41°N
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years
Biology: Gregarious fish which swims near the surface. Prefers upper reach of rivers and clear, cool lakes. Feeds on insects, worms, snails, and rarely plants. Enters brackish water in the eastern Baltic. Reproduction occurs in March and April.
Pale yellow eggs are found attached to gravel and stones in shallow, flowing water
Come fishing in Devon, Enjoy Devon fishing holidays, stay in stunning holiday cottages and fishing, selfcatering cottages and fishing, fishing holidays Devon.