Taran

Diagnosed from its congeners in Black Sea basin by having the combination of the following characters: laterally compressed body; 39-41 + 2-3 scales along lateral line; dorsal and anal fins usually with 10½ branched rays; mouth inferior; iris from silvery to yellow; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins grey with dark margins; and breeding males with scattered tubercles on head and a tubercle on each flank scale (Ref. 59043).

A semi-anadromous species. Occurs mostly in shallow brackish coastal waters. While at sea, adults are most abundant at depth of 2.5-4.0 m and salinity of 2-4 ppt. Enters freshwater of estuaries, lagoons and lower reaches of large rivers to spawn. Commences movement to coast in August and to rivers in September, with a peak in October. Stops migration by end of November and overwinters in main river or estuaries. Continues spawning migration with breaking up of ice in March (Dniepr). Breeds in April-May. Adults migrate back to estuaries to forage immediately after spawning. Juveniles move to estuaries during first summer in August. Reported decline was due to blocking of almost all spawning rivers and decline of brackish areas in Black Sea basin (Ref. 59043).

Rutilus heckelii is a species of roach, a genus in the family Cyprinidae. This species occurs in freshened areas of Black and Azov Seas, entering the Don, Kuban, Dniepr, Dniestr and rarely Danube drainages.

Newer research, however, suggests that R. heckelii is part of a more widely distributed species of roach, whose range extends to Siberia. The proper name of that species is Rutilus lacustris.

In Russia, other countries of the former Soviet Union and parts of Eastern Europe, this and related species of roach are commonly air-dried and salted to create a popular beer snack, known as 'taran' or 'taranka', after the Russian word for this fish species, 'тарань'.