Asp (fish)

The asp (Leuciscus aspius) is a European freshwater fish of the Cyprinidae family. It is sometimes considered by taxonomic authorities to be one of two members of the genus Aspius. It is protected under Appendix III of the Bern Convention and listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]

Asp
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Leuciscinae
Genus: Leuciscus
Species:
L. aspius
Binomial name
Leuciscus aspius
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Cyprinus aspius Linnaeus, 1758
  • Aspius aspius (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Cyprinus rapax Leske, 1774
  • Cyprinus taeniatus Eichwald, 1831
  • Aspius rapax Agassiz, 1835
  • Cyprinus rapax Pallas, 1814
  • Aspius vulgaris Leiblein, 1853
  • Alburnus iblioides Kessler, 1872
  • Aspius erytrostomus Kessler, 1877
  • Aspius linnei Malm, 1877
  • Aspius transcaucasia Warpachowski, 1896
  • Aspius rapax subsp. jaxartensis Kessler, 1874
  • Cyprinus spec Linnaeus, 1758
  • Squalius leuciscus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Chondrostomus nasus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Normally, asps are between 10 and 80 centimeters (3.9 and 31.5 inches) in length, with some reaching 120 centimeters (47 inches), and weighing up to 12 kilograms (26 pounds). They inhabit lakes and lower reaches of rivers and estuaries. In April to June, asps migrate from lakes to streams for spawning. Spawning is triggered by the rise in temperature and usually starts at 6 °C (43 °F). The eggs attach to rocks, gravel, and water plants. After around two weeks, they hatch and the fry drift downstream to calmer waters. They tend to be active during the evening, when they may create large splashes as they hunt near the surface of the water.

Asps can be found in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In Switzerland, asps have migrated through the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, as in Serbia, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. In the eastern regions of Europe, it is a common species in flowing waters, and popular for fly and other types of fishing.

  • Eggs from asp
    Eggs from asp
  • A 4-kg asp caught in Biesbosch, NL
    A 4-kg asp caught in Biesbosch, NL
  • Asp on exhibition Subaqueous Vltava in Prague
    Asp on exhibition Subaqueous Vltava in Prague

References
  1. Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2018) [amended version of 2008 assessment]. "Leuciscus aspius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T2178A136077402. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T2178A136077402.en. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  2. "Leuciscus aspius (Linnaeus, 1758)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  3. "Leuciscus aspius (Linnaeus, 1758)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
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