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Apron (Zingel asper) — Percidae

Apron

Zingel asper
Family: Percidae
EN · Endangered

The Apron (Zingel asper) is a freshwater fish of the family Percidae that grows up to 22 cm.

Length
22 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The apron or Rhône streber is a slender, perch-like bottom fish of the family Percidae reaching about 22 cm. The spindle-shaped, brown-yellow body has a strikingly thin caudal peduncle and bears dark, oblique cross-bars; the two dorsal fins are separate and the first is spiny. Like its relatives the zingel and streber, the apron is strongly adapted to fast-flowing water: it presses against the bottom with its pectoral fins to avoid being swept away. The species is endemic to the Rhône drainage in France and Switzerland. Mainly at night it hunts insect larvae, small bottom fish and crustaceans. Through dams, canalisation and water pollution it has been reduced to a few isolated stretches and is assessed as Endangered (EN); it is the subject of intensive conservation.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Apron?

The Apron has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Apron live?

The Apron lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Apron get?

The Apron grows to a maximum of about 22 cm.

Is the Apron dangerous to humans?

No, the Apron is harmless to humans.

Is the Apron edible?

The Apron is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Rhone-zingel inferred
English name
Apron verified
Scientific name
Zingel asper
Family
Percidae
Other names
Asper; Rhone streber verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
22.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater verified
Substrate
Mixed bottom verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Zingel

More from the family Percidae

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