Common zingel

Zingelen ( zingel zingel )

The zingel ( zingel zingel ) is a species of the family of Real perch ( Percidae ).

Features

Zingel have a torpedo-shaped body, which appears almost round in cross section. The mouth of the Zingels is inferior, meaning that its the upper jaw is longer than the muzzle lower half. The scales of the Zingels are small and fixed. Its sides and his back have a yellow -brown color. His whole body, especially the back is covered with dark cross bands. He has two separate dorsal fins; the first has 13-14 spines and no soft rays, the second a sting ray and 18-20 soft rays. The swim bladder is much reduced form. Zingel are on average 15 to 20 cm, up to 50 cm tall and reach up a weight of about 1.5 kg. The zingel can easily be confused with the nerd who has fewer dorsal fin rays and remains significantly smaller.

Habitat

The zingel comes from the catchment area of ​​the Danube and its tributaries. You meet the fish in the grayling and barbel region.

Reproduction

The zingel spawns in the period from March to April in the flow on stony ground; therefore you count him among the Kieslaichern.

Way of life

The bottom fish is during the day usually between stones and goes at night in search of food. It feeds on worms, small crustaceans, insect larvae and other small animals as well as fish spawning or other small fish. A special feature of the fish is that he occasionally travels with jerky movements on the water bottom.