File:Gymnocephalus_cernuus_Pärnu_River_Estonia_2010-01-06.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
ruffe
Sign in to saveAlso known as Eurasian ruffe, pope, Gymnocephalus cernua
The ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua), also known as the Eurasian ruffe or pope, is a freshwater fish found in temperate regions of Europe and northern Asia. It has been introduced into the Great Lakes of North America as an invasive species and is causing unfortunate results as it is reproducing faster than other species. Its common names are ambiguous – "ruffe" may refer to any local member of its genus Gymnocephalus, which as a whole is native to Eurasia.
OverviewAI-generated
The ruffe, scientifically named *Gymnocephalus cernua*, is a species of fish classified within the family Percidae and the order Perciformes. It belongs to the class Teleostei and the phylum Chordata. The taxon was originally described by Linnaeus in 1758 and holds an accepted status in biological records.
This organism inhabits both brackish and freshwater environments. It is also referred to by the common name Kaulbarsch. According to the IUCN Red List, the species was assessed as Least Concern in 2024.
Synthesized by Vinony from 15 facts across 4 sources: Wikidata, WoRMS, IUCN Red List, Vinony graph. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.
Species
Least ConcernKaulbarsch
Species
- PhylumChordata
- ClassTeleostei
- OrderPerciformes
- FamilyPercidae
via IUCN
~8 min read
Encyclopedic overview
12 sectionsContents
- Description
- Distribution
- Diet
- Reproduction
- Life cycle
- Presence in the North American Great Lakes area
- Ecological effects
- Control
- Other invasive situations
- References
- Sources
- External links
The ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua), also known as the Eurasian ruffe or pope, is a freshwater fish found in temperate regions of Europe and northern Asia. It has been introduced into the Great Lakes of North America as an invasive species and is causing unfortunate results as it is reproducing faster than other species. Its common names are ambiguous – "ruffe" may refer to any local member of its genus Gymnocephalus, which as a whole is native to Eurasia.
==Description== The ruffe's colors and markings are similar to those of the walleye, an olive-brown to golden-brown color on its back, paler on the sides with yellowish white undersides. The ruffe can reach up to in length, but is usually around half that size. It is a very aggressive fish for its size. The ruffe also has a large, spiny dorsal fin which is likely distasteful to its predators. It also has two fins on top, the front fin has hard and sharp spines, the back fin has soft spines called rays. The most obvious features to recognize a ruffe are the ruffe's large, continuous dorsal fin and its slightly downturned mouth.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “ruffe” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.