Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1758)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 272-273

Abramis brama

Common name. Bream.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from species of Ballerus , Blicca , and Vimba by: ● sub-inferior mouth, which can be extended as a tube / ● 51–60 total lateral-line scales / ○ 23–30½ branched anal rays / ○ eye small, diameter about 2 ⁄ 3 of snout length in individuals larger than 100 mm SL / ○ pharyngeal teeth 5–5 / ○ base of paired fins hyaline or grey. Size up to 700 mm SL.

Distribution. West Asia: Marmara, Black, and Caspian Sea basins. Locally introduced in Tigris and Lake Urmia basins (both Iran). Native to most European drainages from Adour ( France) to Pechora (White Sea basin); Aegean basin, in Lake Volvi and Struma and Maritza drainages east to Aral basin. Introduced in Lake Baikal and upper Ob and Yenisei drainages. Naturally absent from Iberian Peninsula, Adriatic basin, Italy, Scotland, Scandinavia north of Bergen ( Norway), and 67°N ( Finland). Locally introduced in Ireland, Spain, Neretva ( Croatia), Italy, and likely elsewhere.

Habitat. Lakes, reservoirs, and large- to medium-sized rivers. Most common in backwaters, lower reaches of slow-flowing rivers, brackish estuaries, and warm, shallow lakes. Semi-anadromous individuals enter fresher parts of seas to feed. Usually spawns in densely

vegetated backwaters, floodplains, or lake shores. Sometimes far from shore. Almost any surface can be used for spawning.

Biology. Gregarious. Forms large schools in winter, often with other fish. Lives about 10–20 years. Spawns first time at 3–4 years. Some females do not spawn every year. Spawns in May–June at temperatures above 15°C. In many populations, spawning migration begins in autumn (especially in semi-anadromous individuals), slows during winter, and continues in spring. Migrate far upstream ( 100 km in Dniepr) to spawn. Males with nuptial tubercles on head and body. Males often defend spawning grounds along banks. Females spawn once a year for a few days (Rhine) to 1–3 times a year, 7–14 days apart (Ilmensee). Eggs are sticky and increase in size with age. Larvae and juveniles inhabit still waters and feed on plankton. Juvenile survival is high in backwaters and low in main channel of large rivers. Growth is faster in main rivers than in backwaters. Juveniles of 1–2 years move from backwaters to river for feeding. If juveniles do not have opportunity to leave backwaters, they adapt by having slower growth and reaching maturity at a smaller size (stunted populations). In lower reaches of large rivers, juveniles drift to brackish estuaries to forage when water level in flooded areas drops. Juveniles foraging in brackish water enter lower reaches of rivers to overwinter in freshwater. Feeds on benthic invertebrates excavated from fine bottom sediments, often on molluscs. May switch to particulate or even filter feeding when zooplankton abundance is high. Juveniles feed mainly on zooplankton. Often forms fertile hybrids with Rutilus species.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Berg 1949b (biology); Molls 1999 (biology); Brylinska & Boron 2004 (biology).