European chub

Chub ( Squalius cephalus )

The chub ( Squalius cephalus, Leuciscus cephalus Syn ), also called Alet, Eitel or chub, is a species of fish in the carp family (Cyprinidae ). For this group of fish includes about 2,500 species.

Designation

In Bavaria and Austria the chub chub is also called (the " chub " or " the chubs " ), in the Alemannic Alet (around Lake Constance and Switzerland ). Another name is cane carp or thick head. At the lower Neckar in the Palatinate called him Knilps. The Saar and Moselle area also the name Mülwe or Milwe is widespread.

Features

The chub on average 30 to 40 inches long and 1 kilogram has an elongated and laterally flattened, torpedo-shaped body. The head is very large and the terminal mouth wide. The mouth has a continuous horn instead of cutting teeth. In its habit it resembles the Aland ( Leuciscus idus ), but has larger scales with a dark border, which result in a net-like drawing, and an outwardly curved anal fin. The back and sides are silver to golden, colored the abdominal and pectoral fins reddish.

Size and weight

Similar to the carp, the length (and weight) vary greatly depending on water and natural food resources. The biggest chub in the UK was caught in 2007 with a weight of 4.2 kg in a lake at Gloucester. Another big fish of 4 kg in 2006 in Lake Wallingford ( United Kingdom ) captured, followed by about 3 -pound specimens from Kalmar ( Sweden) and the Rhine.

Dissemination

The chub is found in almost all of Europe, with the exception of Scotland, Ireland and the far north of Scandinavia. In addition, Turkey, Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Iran.

His main area of ​​distribution, the chub mainly in the UK with the largest stocks, also in France, Benelux and western and southern Germany. Chub form in the Plitvice lakes in Croatia larger stocks. The well- observed in the clear water surface swarms have become a tourist attraction. In Germany you will find in the Upper Rhine, Mangfall, Nidda, Moselle, Ruhr, Erft, Neckar, Weisse Elster, Lech and Walchensee good to very good Döbelbestände. The predominant in southern Germany chub is very similar to Aland in his life, which dominates in Northern Germany. In contrast to the chub, however, the Aland colonized larger rivers, canals and lakes. In Ireland chub were sighted from 2001 isolated, which caused a discussion about a potential danger of native fish species.

Way of life

The chub is a widespread freshwater fish and is one of the Leitfischen the grayling and barbel region. He lives both in strong flowing streams and hyporhithralen potamalen rivers, crossed by rivers lakes ( Biotop-Nr./EU-Code FFH 4.1.1. , 4.2.1 and 4.3.1 and 3260 ) as well as pent-up flow ranges up to go small bodies of water such as drainage ditches in the open fields. Young fish usually stay still in large schools near the surface to capture and approach food. Big chub live mainly solitary in shelters as overhanging trees and shrubs, under bridges or deep pools of a stream. Preferred locations include low-flow areas behind large stones or small bays.

Typically, they live in small groups of about ten animals. It feeds on insects and other small animals, and sometimes plants. Larger specimens also eat smaller fish and amphibians. Although the chub is traditional, like all domestic carp, counted among the Fried fish, but in reality it is an omnivore. In addition to algae and aquatic plants include aquatic insects, their larvae, snails, clams and worms to its diet. The older he gets, the more he laid also on the hunt for small fish. Among anglers is also known that chub are to catch well with fruits. Popular with chub are sweet cherries, plums, grapes and also elderberries. It is immaterial whether the fish these fruits fallen naturally in its waters, trees and shrubs into the water place. Especially older specimens are considered to be extremely shy and are very difficult to catch.

Sexual maturity is reached at 2-4 years, during the spawning season from April to June ( depending on the water temperature by May to July) the critters then about 100,000 eggs on plants or in the gravel base.

Chub react relatively sensitive to water pollution and can be an indicator of unpolluted stream and river water. The reaction of chub to toxic chemicals has been studied in the French Rhône.

Water regulations threaten the existence of the chub, as they rely on grobkiesige to gravelly spawning substrates with oxygen-rich and faster flow, and can not replicate in channelized streams and rivers. Strong sediment in the water and sludge formation can prevent the hatching of juveniles. In the Oder- Havel Canal a local Chubs population was discovered that naturally multiplies there, and greater adaptability and plasticity in ecological marginal habitats ( eg monotonous water body without shelter and cover for fish, stone packs as banks limit, low water plants and waves seen by inland waterway vessels ) can than previously thought.

In trout streams of the chub was severely persecuted in many places as spawning predators of young trout fry during the winter months. In upland rivers with moderate water temperatures may even displace trout. Chub usually prefer higher water temperatures up to 26 ° C.

The chub is used as a host for the life cycle of river mussel ( Unio crassus ).

The chub as food fish

How many other white fish is little attention due to its rich boneless meat in the kitchen and the chub. The meat of the Aitels is very fine. Repeatedly cutting the fillets / fresh fish before frying, grilling or frying the fish bones are barely noticeable. The Latin poet Ausonius mentions in his Mosella, a poem about a Moselfahrt in the year 371, the subtle but rich boneless meat of the chub and regrets his low durability.

Importance in relation to other species of fish

The chub is a threat for trout and grayling, as he decimated the stock of these two fish species extreme. In many public waters (mainly rivers ) to the chub ( no matter what size he has, the minimum is at the chub often invalidated ) are taken to protect the stock of these fish species.

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