Scardinius spp (rudd)

Two different species of Scardinius occur in the region of this report [9]. Scardinius erythrophthalmus is native north of the Alps with a wide distribution across most of Europe except the peninsulas of Mediterranean Europe. Scardinius hesperidicus is native south of the Alps, and probably only to the Po river catchment and Adriatic rivers east of the Po (Kottelat & Freyhof). Among other differences, the two species can usually be distinguished as adults by the colour of the fins: red in S. erythrophthalmus (particularly the pelvic fins) and dark grey/ brown in S. hesperidicus (Figure 38).