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Silver gudgeon (Squalidus argentatus) — Cyprinidae

Silver gudgeon

Squalidus argentatus
Family: Cyprinidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Silver gudgeon (Squalidus argentatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
18.8 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The silver gudgeon is a small carp-like fish from fresh and brackish water of China and Vietnam in East Asia. The species grows to about 19 cm and has a slender, silvery body with greyish and golden longitudinal stripes, scattered black spots on the back and a row of grey-black blotches along the flank. It lives in rivers and streams and feeds on small invertebrates. Owing to insufficient data the IUCN lists the species as Data Deficient (DD).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Silver gudgeon?

The Silver gudgeon has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Silver gudgeon live?

The Silver gudgeon lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Silver gudgeon get?

The Silver gudgeon grows to a maximum of about 19 cm. On average the species is around 7 cm.

Is the Silver gudgeon dangerous to humans?

No, the Silver gudgeon is harmless to humans.

Is the Silver gudgeon edible?

The Silver gudgeon is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zilveren grondeling verified
English name
Silver gudgeon verified
Scientific name
Squalidus argentatus
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.8 verified
Average length (cm)
6.9 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Squalidus

More from the family Cyprinidae

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