Vimba vimba (Linnaeus, 1758)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 421-422

Vimba vimba

Common name. Vimba .

Diagnosis. Distinguished from species of Abramis , Acanthobrama , Ballerus , and Blicca by: ○ 46–58+2–3 lateral-line scales / ○ 16–22½ branched anal rays / ○ no scaleless groove in front of dorsal / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray as much or slighly more ossified as other rays, thickened or not thickened / ○ sub-inferior mouth, which cannot be extended as a tube / ○ back keeled behind dorsal base / ○ pharyngeal teeth 5–5 / ○ orange or reddish base of paired fins in adults. Size up to 400 mm SL (Caspian anadromous form), many populations much smaller.

Distribution. Caspian, Black, Marmara, and Baltic Sea basins ( Sweden and Finland north to 63°N), North Sea basin from Elbe to Ems drainages. In Anatolia: in Aegean basin (from Gediz to Eşen), southern Marmara basin including lakes Apolyont, Manyas, İznik, and Sapanca, and in Black Sea tributaries. Lake Eğirdir (Central Anatolia) and Aksu and Köprüçay which flow to Gulf of Antalya. Semi- anadromous

in Caspian basin, entering almost all, even small, tributaries to spawn. Widespread in Europe from Elbe east to Volga and all rivers in Baltic, Black, and Caspian basin. Non-native to Rhine and northern Italy.

Habitat. Brackish estuaries, large to medium-sized rivers, and large lakes. Sedentary populations also occur in small rivers. Spawns on gravel in riffles in shallow, fast-flowing streams and rivers.

Biology. Lives up to 7–15 years. Semi-anadromous populations forage in freshened parts of sea. Caspian population undertakes long-distance migrations to overwinter and feed at sea. To spawn, enters rivers in winter (Kura) or March–April (smaller rivers) and undertakes long upstream spawning migrations. Spawns first time at 2–3 years of age. Spawns late April–late July, depending on water temperature. Commences spawning when temperature rises above 15°C. Lacustrine populations migrate to fast-flowing tributaries. Fractional spawners, individual females spawn several times over 2–3 months.

Individuals spawn only once per season, reported from upper Danube and Caspian basin, and spent adults return to feeding areas. Feeds mainly on small molluscs and insect larvae.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. The genus Vimba is closely related to other breams, such as Acanthobrama , Abramis , Ballerus , Blicca , and Mirogrex . Typically, four species are recognised within the genus. Vimba melanops is endemic to the European part of the Aegean, V. persa is found in the Caspian basin, V. mirabilis is found in the eastern Aegean basin (from Gediz south to Eşen in Türkiye), and V. vimba is found in the Black Sea basin. However, all Vimba are very closely related, and

morphological characters do not allow for the distinction of different species within that genus. Therefore, we treat all Vimba as a single species.

Further reading. Ladiges 1960 (description of V. mirabilis ); Abdurakhmanov 1962 (morphology, biology; Caspian basin); Bănărescu et al. 1970 (systematics); Elanidze 1983 (morphology, biology, Black Sea); Geldiay & Balık 2007 (distribution in Türkiye); Kottelat & Freyhof 2007 (summary of distribution and biology); Hänfling et al. 2009 (phylogeography); Özcan & Balık 2009 (biology, as V. mirabilis ); Perea et al. 2010 (phylogeny); Chaichi et al. 2011 (reproduction, Caspian); Bogutskaya et al. 2013 (review; Caspian, as Vimba persa ); Okgerman et al. 2013 (feeding).

Leuciscid fishes have a poor taste and many intromuscular bones and are of low commercial value in West Asia.