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Taxonomic name: Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms: Cyprinus caeruleus Yarrell, 1833, Cyprinus compressus Hollberg, 1822, Cyprinus erythrophthalmus Linnaeus, 1758, Cyprinus erythrops Pallas, 1814, Cyprinus fuscus Vallot, 1837, Cyprinus scardula Nardo, 1827, Leuciscus apollonitis Richardson, 1857, Leuciscus erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758), Rutilus erythrophthalmus scardata (Bonaparte, 1837), Scardinius crocophthalmus Walecki, 1863, Scardinius dergle Heckel & Kner, 1858, Scardinius erithrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758), Scardinius eruthrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758), Scardinius erythrophthalmus achrus Stephanidis, 1950, Scardinius erythrophthalmus dojranensis Karan, 1924, Scardinius erythrophthalmus racovitzai Müller, 1958, Scardinius erythrophthalmus rutiloides Vladykov, 1931, Scardinius hesperidicus Bonaparte, 1845, Scardinius macrophthalmus Heckel & Kner, 1858, Scardinius platizza Heckel, 1845, Scardinius plotizza Heckel & Kner, 1858, Scardinius racovitzai Müller, 1958, Scardinius scardafa ohridana Vladyko & Petit, 1930, Scardinius scardafa (non Bonaparte, 1837) Common names: about (French), almindelig Rudskalle (Danish), cervenica (Czech), cervenica obycajná (Slovak), chervenoperka (Bulgarian), deargan (Gaelic, Irish), gardí (Spanish), gardon carpe (French), gardon de roche (French), gardon rouge (French), kizilkanat baligi (Turkish), kokkinoftera (Greek), krasnoperka (Russian), lloska-ë (Albanian), louzou (French), Meefischli (German), pearl roach (English), perlín ostrobrichý (Czech), perlin rudoploutvy (Czech), plate (French), platelle (French), platitsa (Greek), rdeceperka (Slovene), redeye (English), rietvoorn (Dutch), rosioara (Romanian), rossard (French), rotengle (French), Rotfeder (German), rothfeden (French), rottle (French), rudd (English), rudskalle (Danish), Sarv (Swedish), scardola (Italian), sergent (French), sorkh Baleh (Farsi-Iran), sorkh Pareh (Farsi-Iran), sorv (Norwegian), sørv (Norwegian), sorva (Finnish), søv (Norwegian), suce-roseaux (French), Weißfisch (German), wzdrega (Polish), wzdrega a. krasnopiórka (Polish) Organism type: fish Scardinius erythrophthalmus (rudd) are mainly herbivorous freshwater fish that are found throughout Eurasia. They have been introduced to a number of countries as a sport fish. Concerns have been raised about the effects of Scardinius erythrophthalmus on aquatic communities. Description The back is golden-olive, paling to a silvery-olive on the sides and silvery-white on the belly. The fins are coloured a bright orange-red and the eyes are pink to gold (McDowall, 2000) Occurs in: lakes, water courses, wetlands Habitat description Found in lakes, rivers, marshes, canals and ponds (FishBase, 2004). Prefers waters that contain large weed beds (McDowall, 2000). Tolerates a pH range of 7.0 - 7.5 and temperature range of 10 - 22°C. Can live in brackish waters (FishBase, 2004). General impacts Rudd maybe a potential pest in some areas, due to their consumption of aquatic plants. Experiments in New Zealand have suggested that rudd may be putting vulnerable native aquatic plant communities at risk (Lake et al., 2002).In New Zealand the introduction of rudd to a small put-and-take trout fishery ruined the fishery because they stunted and outcompeted trout for anglers lures (Rowe & Champion, 1994). Uses Valued as a sporting fish by coarse anglers (McDowall, 2000). Notes Rudd are unpopular with trout anglers, as they will take a fly and therefore make it more difficult to catch trout . Geographical range Native range: Eurasia: widely spread in Europe and middle Asia in the basins of the North, Baltic Black, Caspian (from Emba, Ural and Volga to the rivers of the southern coast) and Aral seas. Known introduced range: Introduced to Canada, Morocco, New Zealand, Spain, Tunisia and the USA (FishBase, 2004). Introduction pathways to new locations Natural dispersal: Rudd are able to disperse within connected water bodies. Smuggling: Rudd have been introduced illegally by anglers in some countries. Stocking: Angling organisations may realease rudd as a sport fish. Local dispersal methods Intentional release: Due to its value as a sport fish, rudd may be released by angling organisations. Natural dispersal (local): Rudd are able to disperse within connected water bodies. Management information Physical: A study has shown that the use of fine-mesh monofilament gill nets is a potentially viable but short term option for the control of rudd in small lakes (Neilson et al. 2004). Ruud were eliminated from a 2 ha lake using a combination of grass carp to removee weed beds and then rotenone to remove the unwanted fish exposed by weed removal (Rowe & Champion, 1994). Nutrition Largely carnivorous. When small rudd feed on aquatic crustaceans, snails and insects. As they grow larger they include small fish, worms, detritus, aquatic plants and terrestrial insects in their diet (McDowall, 2000). Reproduction Reproduction is by external fertilisation, with large numbers of small eggs (1 - 1.4mm in diameter) deposited amongst aquatic vegetation. Spawning occurs once per year over spring/summer, when water temperatures rise above about 18°C (McDowall, 1990) Lifecycle stages Males mature at the age of one, females at one to two. Lifespan exceeds four years (McDowall, 2000). Newly hatched fish attach themselves to aquatic plants using adhesive organs. They stay attached for several days while the sustenance contained within the yolk sac is used up(McDowall, 1990). Reviewed by: Dr. David Rowe, NIWA (National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research). Hamilton New Zealand. Principal sources: McDowall, R. M. 2000. The Reed field guide to New Zealand freshwater fishes. Auckland, Reed. FishBase, 2004. Species profile Scardinius erythrophthalmus Rudd Compiled by: IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) with support from the Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (TFBIS) Programme (Copyright statement) To contribute information, please contact Shyama Pagad. Last Modified: Tuesday, 11 April 2006