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Gudgeon (fish)
Encyclopedia
Gudgeon is a common name for a number of small freshwater
fishes of the families
Cyprinidae, Eleotridae
or Ptereleotridae. Most gudgeons are elongate, bottom-dwelling fish, many of which live in rapids and other fast moving water.
Various cyprinid gudgeons, members of the subfamily Gobioninae (e.g. genera Gobio
, Romanogobio
), are found in lakes and rivers throughout Europe. Most commonly gudgeon refers to the species Gobio gobio
. This is a rheophilic
and schooling species that occurs both in riverine and lacustrine habitats across continental Europe and the United Kingdom
. G. gobio feeds on a variety of invertebrates. This gudgeon is an easy fish to catch for beginners. In 2011, the British
rod caught record gudgeon is 5 ounces caught in 1990 on the River Nadder
, Wiltshire
.
Known commonly as gudgeons, many species in the family Eleotridae
are also called sleeper gobies. Unlike gobies, Eleotridae gudgeons have paired ventral fins rather than a fused ventral fin. In Australia
, gudgeons from the family Eleotridae are widespread and are popular for aquariums.
Gudgeons in the family Ptereleotridae are primarily marine
species and are often associated with tropical coral reef
s.
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
fishes of the families
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Cyprinidae, Eleotridae
Eleotridae
Sleeper gobies are members of the Eleotridae fish family, found predominantly in the tropical Indo-Pacific. There are approximately 35 genera and 150 species. While many eleotrids pass through a planktonic stage in the sea and some spend their entire lives in the sea, as adults the majority live in...
or Ptereleotridae. Most gudgeons are elongate, bottom-dwelling fish, many of which live in rapids and other fast moving water.
Gudgeons in the family Cyprinidae
Gobio
Gobio is the genus of typical gudgeons, ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. Members of the genus are usually small fish, rarely longer than 10 cm...
, Romanogobio
Romanogobio
Romanogobio is a genus of cyprinid fish found in Europe and Asia. There are currently 18 described species in this genus, including the extinct R...
), are found in lakes and rivers throughout Europe. Most commonly gudgeon refers to the species Gobio gobio
Gobio gobio
Gobio gobio, or the gudgeon, is a species of freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family.This small fish is widely distributed across northern Eurasia....
. This is a rheophilic
Rheophile
A rheophile is an organism that prefers to live in fast moving water.-Insects:*Many aquatic insects living in riffles require current to survive.*Epeorus sylvicola, a rheophilic mayfly species .-Fish:...
and schooling species that occurs both in riverine and lacustrine habitats across continental Europe and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. G. gobio feeds on a variety of invertebrates. This gudgeon is an easy fish to catch for beginners. In 2011, the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
rod caught record gudgeon is 5 ounces caught in 1990 on the River Nadder
River Nadder
The River Nadder is one of the chalk stream rivers of southern England, much sought after by fly fishermen because of its clear waters and abundance of brown trout. It is one of the main tributaries of the River Avon, rising from a number of springs and small streams at Donhead St. Mary in south...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
Gudgeons in the family Eleotridae
Eleotridae
Sleeper gobies are members of the Eleotridae fish family, found predominantly in the tropical Indo-Pacific. There are approximately 35 genera and 150 species. While many eleotrids pass through a planktonic stage in the sea and some spend their entire lives in the sea, as adults the majority live in...
are also called sleeper gobies. Unlike gobies, Eleotridae gudgeons have paired ventral fins rather than a fused ventral fin. In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, gudgeons from the family Eleotridae are widespread and are popular for aquariums.
Gudgeons in the family Ptereleotridae
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
species and are often associated with tropical coral reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
s.