Home · Cyprinidae · Neretva chub
Neretva chub (Squalius svallize) — Cyprinidae

Neretva chub

Squalius svallize
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Neretva chub (Squalius svallize) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 28 cm.

Length
27.7 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Neretva chub is a slender cyprinid of the family Cyprinidae (Leuciscidae) reaching about 28 cm. Like other chubs it has a broad head, a large mouth and sturdy, large scales; the body is silvery-grey with a dark back. The species is endemic to the fresh water of the Dinaric karst of the western Balkans, mainly the Neretva drainage and surroundings in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in moderately flowing karst rivers and connected lakes. As an omnivore it eats insects, insect larvae, small fish and plant material. In spring it spawns on gravel, where the eggs stick to the stones. The Dinaric karst is a hotspot of endemic freshwater fish, with many species confined to a single drainage.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Neretva chub?

The Neretva chub has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Neretva chub live?

The Neretva chub lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Neretva chub get?

The Neretva chub grows to a maximum of about 28 cm.

Is the Neretva chub dangerous to humans?

No, the Neretva chub is harmless to humans.

Is the Neretva chub edible?

The Neretva chub is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Neretva-kopvoorn inferred
English name
Neretva chub inferred
Scientific name
Squalius svallize
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
27.7 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater verified
Substrate
Open water verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore verified
Social behaviour
Schooling verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten verified
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Squalius

More from the family Cyprinidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →