Ruffe
Gymnocephalus cernua
Also known as: Eurasian Ruffe
About This Species
A small, spiny-finned freshwater fish native to lakes and slow rivers across northern Europe and Asia, typically found near the bottom over silty or sandy substrate in cooler, well-oxygenated water. It is most active feeding at dusk and through the night, making it a common catch for anglers fishing after dark rather than a species easily observed by sight.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- As a fish typically encountered through angling rather than direct observation, minimising disturbance mainly means handling any caught individual briefly and gently before release if not being kept.
- Fishing regulations, including size limits and permitted methods, vary by country and water body across its range, so check local rules rather than assuming a general standard applies.
LCNaNPerciformesPercidae
Seasonal Activity
176,353 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- NaN
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Percidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.