FISHES OF SWITZERLAND - La Maison de la Rivière · FISHES OF SWITZERLAND DR JEAN-FRANÇOIS RUBIN, Prof HES et Président de la Fondation . Petromizontidae Family Lack of jaw Lack

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FISHES OF SWITZERLAND

DR JEAN-FRANÇOIS RUBIN,

Prof HES et Président de la Fondation

Petromizontidae Family

Lack of jaw

Lack of paired fins

Sucking mouth

Semelpares , metamorphosis

± parasites

Lampreys differ from hagfish (myxines) (degenerated eyes , mouth surrounded by 4 pairs of tentacles , 1-16 gill bags)

Naked eellike body, covered with a smooth skin without scales

7 genera, 43 species , 3 in Switzerland (1 extinct)

Acipenseridae Family

Long body with a conelike snout

Cartilaginous skeleton

Heterocercal caudal fin

Lack of scales , covered with bony plates, 4 gill arcs with a spiracle, protractile ventral mouth, benthophage

Long lived, late sexual maturity

23-25 species , 1 in Switzerland (extinct)

Sturgeon, Acipenser sturio (Linnaeus , 1758)

1-2 m long

Ventral mouth (benthophage)

Bony plates instead of scales (height no more than twice width)

Extinct in Switzerland, endangered elsewhere

Anadrome

Lives in the sea -50 m

Migrates in April/May in rivers

Spawns in June/July at 7-9 years for the males and 8-14 years for the females . Reproduction at 2-10 m deep on gravel. Viscid eggs (caviar)

Longevity : 60-100 ans

The different species of sturgeons

Anguillidae Family

Long snakelike body

Unique dorsal fin

No scales

1 genus and 18 species , only 1 in Switzerland

Catadromous

Leptocephalic larvae, elver, eel

Spawns in the Sargasses sea at great depth puis drift of the larvae into the Gulf Stream (3 years 4-7000 km)

Eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus , 1758)

Generaly 40-90 cm but up to 1.5 m

Long cylinderlike body with small operculate openings . No pelvic fin.

Photophobic

Feeds on invertebrae and fish

Lives 6-12 years in rivers than migrates . Longevity : upto 50 years

Probably semelpare

High mortality at present due to a parasite nematode (50% population affected)

Large commercial interest

Salmonidae Family

Fusiform body, cycloid scales

Systematics on teeth

Presence of an adipose fin

3 last vertebrae are unusual

Marks on the s ides at the juvenile stage

11 genera and 68 species

Spawn in fresh water during the winter

Need high O2 concentration (5-9 mg/l)

Salmoninae: large mouth, strong teeth, 7 genera and 30 species

Coregoninae: small mouth, weak teeth, 3 genera and 32 species

Thymallinae: small mouth, large dorsal fin, 1 genus and 5 species

Whitefishes , Coregonus sp. (Linnaeus , 1758)

Laterally compressed s ilver white body, pupil forming an angle towards the front

Systematics not clear : a lot of common names. Several ecotypes : gravenche / féra in Lake Geneva, palée / bondelle in lake Neuchâtel, gregarious : summer on the surface, winter in depth

Zooplanctophage

Spawns from November to January in high water.

Eggs s ink to the bottom (succes depends on the O2 conc)

Big restocking effort

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (Linnaeus , 1758)

1 or 2 large dark spots on the operculum. 11-15 rows of scales between the adipose and the lateral line. Branchiospines in the form of sticks. Looks very much like the trout at the juvenile stage (without the red spots)

Presence of natural magnetite on the lateral line and the head

Up to 1.6 m for 35 kg. Longevity : 14-15 years .

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar

Anadromous (strong homing). Several thousand km (upto 40 km/d).

Indigenous to the Rhine basin, several stocking attempts elsewhere.

Fry - parr (1-3 years in fresh water) - smolt (1-3 years in sea) – brood stock fish (hooknose or satellite)

Spawns November to January in rivers on gravel

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar

Brown trout, Salmo trutta (Linnaeus , 1758)

Large caudal fin weakly forked, vomer with lots of teeth

Varied coat, orange border on the adipose fin

Large morphological variability, 50 described species ! In fact only one species with 3 ecomorphologies

Sea trout

River trout

Lake trout

Resident form

Migrating form

Migrating form

The different types of trout

Introduction to the trout

Brown trout, Salmo trutta

Anadromous optional : individual migrator or resident (in the Kerguelen is lands , there are 3 ecotypes originating from one introduced strain)

Sexual maturity 2-3 years , spawns from September to February in the river on clean gravel. Demands cold water rich in O2. Important homing.

Longevity : 4-6 years , carnivorous

Large commercial value, numerous restocking programs

Management through restocking and/or renaturation of the stream

Genetic : atlantic form / mediterranean / danubian / « cors ican »

LIFE CYCLE OF THE TROUT

MIGRATING OR RESIDENT TROUT ...

22 cm 244 days : Boiron

24 cm

18 cm

261 days : Rivaz

46 cm

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)

Oncorhynchus regroups the pacific trouts and salmons

Different characteristics , generally v iolet edge along the lateral line

Anadromous optional

Origin USA, introduced in Europe in France in 1879, in Switzerland in 1887, in Lake Geneva in 1892

Spawns in spring. Can destroy the eggs of indiginous trout in the same spawning ground. Apparently low success of natural breeding (except in Austria and Slovenia)

Intensive farming

Introduction of the rainbow trout

Introduction of the rainbow trout

France 1879

Impact on indiginous trout

• Indiginous trout spawns in December

• Rainbow trout spawns on the same grounds but in March

Destruction of indiginous eggs

Salvelinus different from Salmo as scales are smaller + white margin front of the finns. Only the vomer has teeth

Great morphological variability

Mouth upto eye but never beyond (Salvelinus fontinalis : Mouth behind eye)

Artic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus , 1758)

Strictly a lake migrator in Switzerland (sometimes anadromous elsewhere), trapped after the retreat of the glaciers , lake Geneva = southern limit of the natural range. The most northern freshwater fish.

Benthophage, planctophage and ichthyophage. Lives in high and/or deep water.

Longevity : 9-11 years (up to 25 yrs if not captured). 20-40 cm for 200-400 g

Spwans in December on clean gravel. Creation of spawning grounds on trial

Important effort of restocking (introduced in 138 french lakes). Hybridation possible with other salmonids

Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus , 1758)

Grayling, Thymallus thymallus (Linnaeus , 1758)

Fusiform body

Small terminal mouth

Large dorsal finn

Smells of thym

Large scales

Numerous black spots

Eye with an elongated pupil (piriforme)

Grayling, Thymallus thymallus

Large divers ified rivers , high oxygen levels and cool

Lives in groups. Insectivore

Sexual maturity : 2-3 yrs

Longevity : 4-6 yrs , 30-40 cm for 0.5-1 kg

Migrates to spawn. Spawns from May to June in fine gravel. Eclosion of eggs after 20 days . Juveniles remain 8 days under gravel before emerging

Esocidae Family

Elongated fusiform body

Forked tail

Only 1 genus and 5 species

(only 1 in Europe)

Piscivore

Dorsal and anal finn placed opposite

Large teeth in the whole mouth

Predator with a remarkable instant velocity

Sexual maturity at 2-3 years

Spawns in spring

Pike, Esox lucius (Linnaeus , 1758)

Unique dorsal finn remotely placed

Large and flat snout

Cross stripes on the juveniles then oblong spots

Fish over 1 m regularly captured, 15-20 kg

Lives in dense vegetation if poss ible shaded. Quiet waters . Low demands in O2 and T°C

Longevity : 10-14 yrs for males, 20-30 yrs for females

Spawns from February to March in vegetation in shallow water

Larvae fixed in the grasses

Planctophage than ichtyophage

Cyprinidae Family

200 genera and 2000 species = the largest vertebrae family

Only dulcaquicole

Protractile mouth

Many hybridisation possibilities between species

Very prolofic, no parental investment after spawning

Systematics mainly on pharyngien teeth

Organ of Weber (between the inner ear and the air bladder)

Carp, Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus , 1758)

Long and stocky body, covered with ± large scales . Protractile fourbearded mouth. A long dorsal finn and a short anal one. Polymorphic species

Lower parts of rivers , ponds. Low ecological demands

Sexual maturity 2-3 yrs . Spawns from May to July in vegetation. Sometimes upto 2 spawnings /yr

Longevity : 40-50 yrs . Omnivore

Originates from central Asia. Introduced in 1877 in USA. Oldest domesticated species (farmed s ince neolithic age -14 ’000 yrs)

A colonisation of human origin

From the romans to the monks and through the Pope…..

From the Middle-Ages, during the 100 fasting days, one can eat :

• fish

• amphibians

• crayfish and…

• beavers !

Variability of the carp

Common Bream, Abramis brama (Linnaeus , 1758)

Laterally compressed high body. Caudal finn very indented, inferior lobe longer than superior. Tubercules in the male during spawning

Lower parts of rivers , lakes and eutrophic ponds. Migration during spawning (May-July) towards the grasses. Sexual maturity : 5-7 yrs

30-50 cm upto 5 kg. Longevity : 25 yrs . Benthophage + zooplancton.

Hybrids frequently with roach and rudd

Spirlin, Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782)

Lateral line curved strongly down with rows of black dots. Dark band along the s ides

Lives in groups in the turbulances of fast water. Feeds on drift

10-12 cm

Spawns on stones (May-July)

Gluey eggs

Barbel, Barbus barbus (Linnaeus , 1758)

Fourbearded character. Hydrodynamic form, inferior mouth. Uniform colour, unmarbled. Orange paired finns, strong dorsal finn

Largest barbel, females much larger. 30-60 cm for 5-7 kg. Longevity : 25 yrs . Gregarious . Sex.mat. : 4-5 yrs for males, 7-8 yrs for females . Spawns on radiers in May-July. Anadromous .

Lives in the fast waters of plain rivers , shelters in the embacles , stony beds

Originates from the Danube. Systematics in mutation. Fertile hybrids possible with other barbels . Omnivorous .

Gold fish, Carass ius auratus (Linnaeus , 1758)

Looks like a small fat carp, larger but not as high as the crucian carp. Various coats . No black spot at the base of the caudal finn

Many domestic forms have been released outdoors .

Low ecological demands. Stands eutrophic waters .

Planctophage and vegetarian. Can induce important turbidity in the water. Communication trough pheromones .

Ornemental form created in China around year 1000.

Spawns March to June

The Gold fish in Europe …

A woman’s fancy …….

Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, demands the

same gift from King Louis XV

In the Arabian Nights , Sheherazade receives a golden fish from one of her lovers ...

1730 en France

Gudgeon, Gobio gobio (Linnaeus , 1758)

Long body, thick snout, subterminal mouth, twobearded. Polymorphic species . Tubercules in the male during mating

Grayling, barbel and bream areas. Clear waters on gravel or sandy beds

Great variability. Sexual maturity 2-4 yrs . Spawns April-July when temperature is over 15°C, fractionned multiple spawning, gluey eggs on vegetation

8-15 cm for 200 g. Longevity : 5-70 yrs .

Gregarious . Benthophage

Minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus , 1758)

Long cylindrical body

Green olive colour except during spawning (male with colours and tubercules)

Lives in clear waters in trout areas. Gregarious . 6-14 cm.

Sexual maturity 1-3 yrs . Spawns April-July only on clean gravel with high O2 levels

Omnivore opportunist. Longevity : 3-6 yrs . Can secrete pheromones (alarm substances)

Bitterling, Rhodeus amarus (Pallas , 1776)

Small s ize. Incomplete lateral line. Blue-green band on the s ides . During spawning periods , males are iridescent pink and violet. Dark spot behind the opercules

Lives in quiet waters

Sexual maturity at 1 yr . Lays eggs in anodonta in April-August. Male then defends the mussel

Phytophage. Longevity 2-3 yrs

5-6 cm for10 g. One of the smallest cyprinids of Europe.

Roach, Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus , 1758)

Slender body, dorsal finn level with the pelvic finns. Little colouring of the finns. Tubercules in the males during spawning. Red eyes .

The most widespread Cyprinidae. Gregairious . Vector of many parasites . Still waters in vegetation, then in free flowing water.

Sexual maturity 2-3 yrs for males, 3-4 yrs for females . Spawns April-June in vegetation (possible sex invers ion with ageing : M-F).

Many hybrids , complexe systematics .

Omnivore. Fodder fish. 20-30 cm for 0.4-1 kg

Tench, Tinca tinca (Linnaeus , 1758)

Rounded body, many small scales . Terminal mouth with a fine beard. Olive colour

Several farmed varieties

Gregarious , lives in the vegetation, in quiet and warm waters

Low ecological demands (O2). Hibernates under the mud

Sexual maturity : 3-4 yrs . Spawns May-October. Gluey eggs

Benthophage. Longevity : 10 yrs

15-30 cm for 1-2 kg

Origin Estern Europe, voluntary introduction in the Middle-Ages.

Cobitidae Family

Loach family

Very long body, cylindrical, naked or covered with very small scales

Inferior mouth at least threebearded

No maxillary teeth but pharyngien ones

Many asian species , 12 species in Europe, 3 in Switzerland

Groundling (loach), Barbatula barbatula (Linnaeus , 1758)

Three pairs of barbels . Dark irregular mottling. No infra-orbital spine

Lives in small streams in trout and barbel areas. Clear and cool water. Often hidden under rocks

Benthophage. 10-12 cm. Longevity : 5-6 yrs

Sexual maturity at 1 yr. Spawns April to June in gravel and macrophytes

Most common of the 3 species

Wels Catfish (Sheatfish), Silurus glanis (Linnaeus , 1758)

Body without scales , 3 pairs of barbels .

Only 1 genus in Europe with 2 species (S. aristotelis in Greece only).

Lives in quiet cloudy water. Low eyesight but developped acoustic detection.

The largest european freshwater fish : upto 3 m for 250 kg. Carnivorous opportunist.

Sexual maturity 3-5 yrs . Spawns only if T ≥ 20°C on roots cleared by the male. Incubation under male’s safekeeping.

Originally, an East european fish present upto the Rhine only. Introduced in 1857 in the french Rhône. Present in Verbois s ince 2003 !

Siluridae

Catfish, Ictalurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820)

Ictaluridae

Posterior s ide of adipose finn is free

Spiny ray on the dorsal finn

Lives in quiet eutrophic waters

Spawns June-July when T = 20°C . Female digs a nest in sandy bed. Parents safeguard the nest. Nocturnal. Communicate through pheromones .

Sexual maturity 3 yrs , longevity : 6-7 yrs

Omnivore opportunist. Can withstand very low O2 concentration. Subject to viral or bacterial infections (only population regulation factor)

Origin North America, introduced in Europe in 1871

Roving catfish

A valve problem at the Natural History museum in Paris…..

S ince 1901, Ministry of water and forest management « one can introduce it everywhere as it is the only fish to survive in polluted waters … »

In Geneva, following a

gastronomical dinner ...

Burbot, Lota lota (Linnaeus , 1758) Gadidae

Only representative of the cod family (60 species , only 1 in fresh water)

1 barbel under the chin, 2 dorsal finns, the second being very long

Lives in large rivers and lakes

Benthic nocturnal

Predator of large invertebraes , of fish and of eggs

Sexual maturity : 1-3 yrs . Spawns in winter

Species from the Rhine basin that colonised the Rhône through the Entreroche canal

Three spine stickleback,Gasterosteus aculeatus (Linnaeus , 1758)

Gasterosteidae

Small fish with a thin caudal peduncle. 3 dorsal spines and pelvic finns well developped, plates (1-25) instead of scales

Spawns in spring at T max 15°C

Complexe spawning behaviour. Creation of a nest by the male who safeguards it. Several spawns by the same female through the season. Female twice the s ize of the male

Lives in fresh water or the sea. Cannibal and inverterbrates . Sexual maturity : 1-2 yrs . Longevity : 4 yrs

Rhine basin. Introduced in the Rhône near S ierre

Percidae Family

Perch family

10 genera and 162 species

2 dorsal finns (1s t with spikes, 2nd with soft rays)

Ctenoid scales

Perch, Perca fluviatilis (Linnaeus , 1758)

3 species , only 1 in Europe

2 twin dorsal fins. Strong spine on the opercule. Green colour with darker stripes

Large rivers or lakes. In the summer on the edges at low depth, in the winter in the open deeper areas

Sexual maturity : 2 yrs for males, 3-4 yrs for females

Growth in function of the temperature and the eutrophisation, 20-35 cm, 2-4 kg

Benthophage, then ichthyophage

Spawns May-June in the grasses. Eggs in ribbons on vegetation

Bullhead, Cottus gobio (Linnaeus , 1758) Cottidae

Large flattened head with large superior mouth. Strong spine in front of opercule

Lives in cool turbulent waters as well as in lakes. Territorial sedentary

Spawns May-June. Gluey eggs under shelter

10-15 cm. Longevity : 5 yrs .

Predator