Ziege (pelecus Cultratus)
The ziege inhabits the top layers of the brackish waters of the Baltic, Black, Aral and Caspian Seas. Its body is relatively long and laterally compressed and it has a wavy lateral line. Its pectoral fins are unusually long and its mouth is steeply oblique. Its dorsal fin is very narrow and deep, whilst its body scales are easily detached and in this respect it is similar to the bleak. Between May and July it migrates from the sea to spawn in rivers, where depending on the salinity its eggs may float. In exceptional circumstances it reaches a length of 60 cm and a weight of 2 kg, its usual size is only 30 cm and 0.5 kg. In the daytime it remains close to the bottom, only rising to the surface in the evening. Young ziege live on plankton, but at a relatively early age also start to feed on small fish and insects which have fallen into the wa ter.
It is quite prolific in the Danube as far as Bratislava and in the lower reaches of such tributaries as the Nitra, Bodrog, and Latorica.
Maximum size and weight:
60 cm, 2 kg.
Identifying characteristics:
Long, laterally flattened body, steeply angled mouth and jagged lateral line. Pectoral fins very long.
