Bleak

Diagnosed from congeners in Europe by the possession of the following characters: origin of anal fin below branched dorsal rays 4-5; lateral line with 45-48 + 3 scales; anal fin with 17-20½ branched rays; 16-22 gill rakers; ventral keel exposed from anus to pelvic base; lateral stripe absent in life, faint or absent in preserved specimens; and mouth slightly superior (Ref. 59043). Caudal fin with 19 rays (Ref. 2196). Also Ref. 40476.

Eggs hatch in about 4 days (Ref. 59043).

Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 2 - 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 14 - 20; Vertebrae: 41 - 44

Occurs in shoals near the surface. Feeds mainly on plankton, including crustaceans (Ref. 30578) and insects (Ref. 9696). Excellent as bait for carnivorous fishes. Feeds at the surface in open water and in the coves, while it forages along the bottom in shallower shore zone (Ref. 46637). Feeding intensity high during summer and beginning of autumn and showed a decline in winter (Ref. 42428).

Inhabits open waters of lakes and medium to large rivers. Forms large aggregations in backwaters and other still waters during winter. Adults occur in shoals near the surface. Larvae live in littoral zone of rivers and lakes while juveniles leave shores and occupy a pelagic habitat, feeding on plankton, drifting insects or invertebrates fallen on the water surface (Ref. 59043). Feeds mainly on plankton, including crustaceans (Ref. 30578) and insects (Ref. 9696). Spawns in shallow riffles or along stony shores of lakes, occasionally above submerged vegetation (Ref. 59043). Excellent as bait for carnivorous fishes. May be captured using the smallest hook and a fly as bait. Its flesh is tasty (Ref. 30578). Of little interest to commercial or sport fisheries in its native range because of its small size (Ref. 1739). Scales were previously utilized in making Essence d"Orient, a coating for artificial pearls (Ref. 59043).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; bait: usually