Home · Cyprinidae · Baikal dace
Baikal dace (Leuciscus baicalensis) — Cyprinidae

Baikal dace

Leuciscus baicalensis
Family: Cyprinidae

The Baikal dace (Leuciscus baicalensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: China, Mongolia, Russia

Want the complete picture on the Baikal dace?

Get the app

Description

The Baikal dace is a cyprinid (Leuciscidae) from cool, clear fresh water of Lake Baikal and adjacent rivers in Siberia. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a slender, streamlined, silvery body with a small mouth. As a schooling fish it swims in flowing rivers and lakes and eats insects, larvae, small invertebrates, algae and plant material. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Baikal dace?

The Baikal dace has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Baikal dace live?

The Baikal dace lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Asia: China, Mongolia, Russia

How big does the Baikal dace get?

The Baikal dace grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Baikal dace dangerous to humans?

No, the Baikal dace is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Baikal dace (Leuciscus baicalensis) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Татьяна, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Baikal dace (Leuciscus baicalensis) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Leonid, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Baikal dace?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Baikal dace is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Baikal dace sourced
Scientific name
Leuciscus baicalensis
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Siberian dace verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Asia: China, Mongolia, Russia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Can be caught with natural bait or lures, matched to the size and habitat of the species. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Leuciscus

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Baikal dace?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Baikal dace is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Baikal dace? Get the app