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Species
Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758)
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Habitat and Ecology
Large, turbid rivers and eutrophic lakes; brackish coastal lakes and estuaries.
Biology:
Lives up to 17 years. Spawns for the first time at 3-10 years, usually at four. Spawns in April-May, exceptional from late February until July, depending on latitude and altitude, when temperatures reach 10-14C in spawning grounds (lowest temperature for egg incubation 11.5C). May undertake short spawning migrations. Individuals foraging in brackish water migrate to freshwater habitats (migrations of up to 250 km have been recorded). Homing well developed, even nearby populations may be relatively isolated. Males are territorial and excavate shallow depressions about 50 cm in diameter and 5-10 cm deep in sand or gravel, or among exposed plant roots on which eggs are deposited, usually in turbid water and at 1-3 m depth. Spawns in pairs, at dawn or night. Female remains over the nest while male circles rapidly around, at about 1 metre from nest. Then male takes a vertical orientation and both swim around swiftly, and eggs and sperm are released. After all the eggs are released female leaves the nest site. Male defends the nest and fans the eggs with his pectorals. Females spawn once a year. Feeding larvae are positively phototactic and feed on pelagic organisms after they leave the nest for open water. Piscivorous, feeding mostly on gregarious, pelagic fishes.
Systems
- Freshwater
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/20860 |
Least Concern (LC)
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Susan M. Luna, FishBase |
Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=360 |
Habitat Type: Freshwater
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Sander+lucioperca |
Conservation Actions
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/20860 |
pelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; depth range 2 - 30 m (Ref. 30578), usually 2 - 3 m (Ref. 27368)
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Susan M. Luna, FishBase |
Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=360 |
fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Susan M. Luna, FishBase |
Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=360 |
Depth range based on 2052 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 222 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 3 - 70
Temperature range (°C): 4.064 - 7.898
Nitrate (umol/L): 1.194 - 2.178
Salinity (PPS): 5.722 - 10.036
Oxygen (ml/l): 7.360 - 8.684
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.114 - 0.469
Silicate (umol/l): 9.899 - 14.483
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 3 - 70
Temperature range (°C): 4.064 - 7.898
Nitrate (umol/L): 1.194 - 2.178
Salinity (PPS): 5.722 - 10.036
Oxygen (ml/l): 7.360 - 8.684
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.114 - 0.469
Silicate (umol/l): 9.899 - 14.483
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
License | http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Ocean Biogeographic Information System |
Source | http://www.iobis.org/mapper/?taxon_id=505840 |
Zander (Sander lucioperca, syn. Stizostedion lucioperca) is a species of fish from freshwater and brackish habitats in western Eurasia. It is closely related to perch. Zander are often called pike-perch as they resemble the pike with their elongated body and head, and the perch with their spiny dorsal fin. Zander are not, as is commonly believed, a pike and perch hybrid. In Europe, a second species (Sander volgensis) is limited to rivers in southern Russia and the basin of the Danube. These two species are suspected to hybridize occasionally where they are sympatric, as they produce fertile hybrids in captivity; no natural hybrids are known yet however, and while they are apparently hard to detect, it is suspected that the species are separated by strong prezygotic isolation. It strongly resembles, both in looks and in taste, the closely related American walleye (Sander vitreus).
The zander is a common and popular game fish in Europe. It is often eaten, and it may reach 20 kg (44 lb)[1] of weight, although typical catches are considerably smaller. Zander reach an average length of 40–80 cm (16-32 inches) with a maximum length of 120 cm (47.25 inches). Zander are not indigenous to the UK, but were introduced into the East Anglian fens (large, partly artificial waterways) in the 20th century and spread rapidly, after the release of 97 fingerlings to the Great Ouse Relief Channel in 1963 by the former Great Ouse River Board.[2]British Waterways included zander among a "dirty dozen" non-native species most likely to harm native wildlife along rivers in Great Britain.[3]
Their success in establishing themselves is owed to a number of factors, one of which is that they are particularly well adapted to life in the slow-flowing, sparsely vegetated, rather murky waters that comprise so many of the British lowland rivers.[4] Zander thrive in water with rather low visibility, unlike pike, which often dominate the predator fish niche in clear water. However, zander need plenty of oxygen and soon disappear from eutrophic areas.
Use by humans[edit]
The zander is considered one of the most valuable food fishes native to Europe. It is esteemed for its light, firm but tender meat with few bones and a delicate flavour. Although it is not generally bred for food, its adaptability makes zander fishery quite sustainable. Indeed, in some regions release of young zanders is restricted, as natural stocks already provide a sufficient supply for the market, while boosting the population of this large predator would have an adverse effect on the zander's food fishes. Zander is especially well suited for fish fillets, sushi and sashimi. It can also be served whole, baked, smoked or cooked. In some culinary circles, zander is appreciated even higher than salmon. Even the offals can be cooked into consommé.
In 2004, it was revealed that some restaurants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota in the United States were serving imported zander instead of the closely related North American walleye (the state fish, and a popular food in the region). While zander and walleye are almost indistinguishable by taste, the restaurants were selling the European fish under the name "walleye", which is an illegal practice. An investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration followed.
In Poland, this fish is popular and regarded as a delicacy, but the difficulty in catching it makes it expensive. It is most commonly baked with a trace of butter.
In Finland, as a conservation measure, law regulates the minimum size of zander considered mature enough to be eaten. Zander is popular for its taste and its tendency to be picky with its prey, making it harder to catch than many other fish. Zander also tend to chase their prey before striking. When striking a fishing lure, it fights by pulling backwards, giving the impression that there is a big stone attached to the fishing line. Because zander is not as good in striking as pike, it prefers slower, even wounded fish; a lure moving too fast won't get the zander's attention. On the other hand, anecdotal evidence suggests that zander do not attack lures that are moving too slowly either.
Wikinews has related news: 'Monster' fish killed in Swiss lake after biting swimmers |
In July 2009 in Switzerland, a zander attacked tourists in Lake Maggiore, sending two people to the emergency room; the worst cut inflicted was about 10 centimeters long. The 70-cm 8-kg fish was later caught by the local police who cooked it and offered it to the tourists for the trouble it caused.[5] It is very unusual for zander to attack humans.
References[edit]
- ^ "International Angling Rules" (IGFA) Accessed 19 November 2008)
- ^ anglin-guru.info
- ^ "Dirty dozen threaten waterways". BBC News. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
- ^ "Foreign Fishes", The Living Countryside magazine (issue 36), p.706
- ^ "?" (in French). TV5. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zander&oldid=654504520 |
Zander resembles pike somewhat as far as outward appearance and behavior is concerned, but it is not related. Just like perch, it has two separate dorsal fins with the front one containing spines. Zanders can grow up to 120 centimeters in length. Sometimes there are large differences in length in the first year due to a lack of prey fish or because the prey fish are too large to eat. It is not unusual to have an entire year class no larger than ten centimeters while the young zanders that get sufficient food grow to 15-20 centimeters. Zander is very tasty and therefore intensely fished in the IJsselmeer.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Ecomare |
Source | http://www.ecomare.nl/index.php?id=3924&L=2 |
Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Sander+lucioperca |