Zope (Ballerus ballerus) fish species and information / pictures of Zope - Ballerus ballerus

Zope (Ballerus ballerus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Ballerus ballerus

Common Name
Zope

Biology
Occur in large lowland rivers with backwaters and also in eutrophic lowland lakes. Feed mainly on zooplankton in open water of backwaters and other still water bodies. Spawn along shores of rivers or in backwaters on submerged vegetation and also on gravel in moderate current. Migrate upriver in long distances to suitable spawning sites. Juveniles stay in backwaters and flooded zones along rivers. Enter freshened parts of seas to forage. Life span reaches more than 10 years. Locally threatened by habitat alterations along river banks.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Carps (Cypriniformes)

Family

Minnows or carps (Cyprinidae)

Distribution

Region

Eurasia

Distribution

Eurasia: large rivers draining to Baltic Sea , North Sea , Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea, where it is abundant in Volga, rare in Ural. Appendix III of the Bern Convention.

Range

63°N - 43°N, 4°E - 56°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

5 °C

Water Temperature To

25 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous

Trophic Level

3.21 s.e. 0.36 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

40.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (49 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.18-0.19; tm=4-5)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)