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Epiros riffle dace (Telestes pleurobipunctatus) — Cyprinidae

Epiros riffle dace

Telestes pleurobipunctatus
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Epiros riffle dace (Telestes pleurobipunctatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The epiros riffle dace is a slender cyprinid of the family Cyprinidae (Leuciscidae) reaching about 18 cm. The streamlined, silvery-grey body often bears a dark lengthwise stripe along the flank. The species lives in the fresh water of western Greece and southern Albania, in clear, flowing rivers and streams with gravel bottoms. In schools it feeds on insect larvae, small crustaceans, algae and plant material. In spring it spawns in shallow, flowing water on gravel. The Balkans are a hotspot of endemic daces and cyprinids, with many species confined to a single drainage or even a single karst field, making them sensitive to water pollution, dams and water abstraction.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Epiros riffle dace?

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

Where does the Epiros riffle dace live?

The Epiros riffle dace lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Epiros riffle dace get?

The Epiros riffle dace grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Epiros riffle dace dangerous to humans?

No, the Epiros riffle dace is harmless to humans.

Is the Epiros riffle dace edible?

The Epiros riffle dace is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Epirus-dace inferred
English name
Epiros riffle dace verified
Scientific name
Telestes pleurobipunctatus
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes 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
levensduur_max_jaar
9.0 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 Telestes

More from the family Cyprinidae

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