# Common roach

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Species of fish

For other uses, see [Roach](/source/Roach_(disambiguation)).

Common roach Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes Family: Leuciscidae Subfamily: Leuciscinae Genus: Rutilus Species: R. rutilus Binomial name Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms[2] Cyprinus rutilus Linnaeus, 1758 Leuciscus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758) Cyprinus rubellio Leske, 1774 Cyprinus simus Hermann, 1804 Cyprinus lacustris Pallas, 1814 Cyprinus jaculus Jurine, 1825 Leuciscus decipiens Agassiz, 1835 Leuciscus prasinus Agassiz, 1835 Cyprinus xanthopterus Vallot, 1837 Cyprinus fulvus Vallot, 1837 Gardonus pigulus Bonaparte, 1841 Leucos cenisophius Bonaparte, 1841 Leuciscus rutiloides Selys-Longchamps, 1842 Leuciscus selysii Selys-Longchamps, 1842 Leuciscus lividus Heckel, 1843 Leuciscus pausingeri Heckel, 1843 Leucos pigulus Bonaparte, 1845 Leucos cenisophius Bonaparte, 1845 Cyprinus pigus Gronow, 1854 Leuciscus jurinii Dybowski, 1862 Gardonus ruboculus Walecki, 1863 Leuciscus pallens Blanchard, 1866

The **roach**, or **rutilus roach** (***Rutilus rutilus***), also known as the **common roach**, is a fresh- and [brackish-water](/source/Brackish_water) fish of the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Cyprinidae](/source/Cyprinid), native to most of Europe and western Asia. Fish called roach can be any [species](/source/Species) of the [genera](/source/Genera) *[Rutilus](/source/Rutilus)*, *[Leucos](/source/Leucos)* and *[Hesperoleucus](/source/Hesperoleucus)*, depending on locality. The plural of the term is also roach.[3]

## Description

Roach in an aquarium

The roach is a small fish, often reaching no more than about 35 centimetres (14 in); maximum length is 50 cm (20 in). Its body has a bluish-silvery colour and becomes white at the belly. The fins are red. The number of scales along the lateral line is 39–48.[3] The dorsal and anal fins have 12–14 rays. Young specimens have a slender build; older specimens acquire a higher and broader body shape. The roach can often be recognized by the big red spot in the [iris](/source/Iris_(anatomy)) above and beside the [pupil](/source/Pupil).[4] Colours of the eye and fins can be very pale, however, in some environments.[3]

In Central and Northern Europe, the common roach can most easily be confused with the [common rudd](/source/Common_rudd) (*Scardinius erythropthalmus*), the [dace](/source/Leuciscus_leuciscus) (*Leuciscus leuciscus*), or the [ide](/source/Leuciscus_idus) (*Leuciscus idus*). They can be distinguished by these characteristics:

- The common rudd has a more yellow/greenish or golden colour. The backfin is placed more backwards and between the tip of the ventral scales and the first ray of the anal fin are only one or two scales. The roach has four or five scales there. The mouth of the rudd is more upturned and the head appears sharper.

- The dace has a greenish body, colorless eyes and fins, and a distinct 'nose'.

- The ide has a higher number of scales along its lateral line (55–61), a rounder body, and a bigger mouth and head.

## Distribution

The common roach is found throughout Europe except for the area around the Mediterranean, and its distribution reaches eastward into Siberia. Eastern Europe and Asia have several subspecies, some with an oceangoing life cycle living around the Caspian and Black Seas.[5] Around the Mediterranean and in northwestern parts of Spain and Portugal, several closely related species occur with no overlap in their distribution.[3]

It was introduced in Australia in the [Murray River](/source/Murray_River) and coastal drainages of southern [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales) and [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)) from Europe during the 1860s and 1880s for sport purposes.[3]

## Ecology

The common roach is very adaptable and can be found in any [freshwater ecosystem](/source/Freshwater_ecosystem), ranging from small ponds to the largest rivers and lakes. It feeds at any depth, although its preferred food sources tend to be in shallower water. It tolerates [organic pollution](/source/Organic_compound) and is one of the last species to disappear in polluted waters; it is also often the most numerous cyprinid in nutrient-poor waters. It also tolerates brackish water. Roach survive in temperatures from close to freezing 4 °C (39 °F) up to around 31 °C (88 °F).[4]

In most parts of its distribution, it is the most numerous fish, but it can be surpassed by the [common bream](/source/Common_bream) in biomass in water bodies with high [turbidity](/source/Turbidity) and sparse vegetation.[4] The roach is a shoaling fish and is not very migratory with the exception of the oceangoing subspecies.[4] In the cold season, they migrate to feed in deeper waters, whereas they prefer to feed near the surface during warmer weather.[4]

Roach mostly inhabit freshwater ecosystems that are somewhat vegetated, because larval and young fish are protected by the vegetation and the mature fish can use it for food. The common roach eats a wide range of foods, from plant material, bottom-dwelling ([benthic](/source/Benthic)) invertebrates, to worms and maggots. Young fish feed mainly on plankton, until they are of a size to use a wider diet. Roach can adapt to environments where invertebrates are scarce by slowing their growth, maintaining slender body shapes, and [maturing](/source/Developmental_biology) early.[3]

Roach may live for 15 years or more.[4]

Roach are known to be parasitised by *[Rhipidocotyle campanula](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rhipidocotyle_campanula&action=edit&redlink=1)* ([fluke](/source/Trematoda)), [Myxobolus muelleri](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Myxobolus_muelleri&action=edit&redlink=1) (myxozoa) and *[Raphidascaris acus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raphidascaris_acus&action=edit&redlink=1)* ([nematode](/source/Nematode)).[6]

Large female roach before spawning season

### Reproduction

The spawning season is generally from March to June, with some variation due to spawning being triggered by the rising of water temperature during spring and summer. Roach generally spawn at the same location each year. Large males form [leks](/source/Lek_mating), which females enter.[7] Males trail the females and fertilize their eggs. Their behaviour is rough and the fish often jump out of the water. A female can lay up to 100,000 eggs. When the [pH](/source/PH) of the water is below 5.5, the roach cannot reproduce successfully.[3]

## See also

- [Caspian roach](/source/Caspian_roach) – related [Caspian Sea](/source/Caspian_Sea) species or subspecies, *Rutilus caspicus*

- [Bait-fish](/source/Bait_fish) – how to use Roach to catch larger fish

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-IUCN_1-0)** Ford, M. (2024). ["*Rutilus rutilus*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19787/58301083). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2024** e.T19787A58301083. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T19787A58301083.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T19787A58301083.en). Retrieved 27 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rut_2-0)** ["Synonyms of *Rutilus rutilus* (Linnaeus, 1758)"](http://www.fishbase.se/Nomenclature/SynonymsList.php?ID=272&SynCode=22947&GenusName=Rutilus&SpeciesName=rutilus). [Fishbase](/source/Fishbase). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171203082813/http://www.fishbase.se/Nomenclature/SynonymsList.php?ID=272&SynCode=22947&GenusName=Rutilus&SpeciesName=rutilus) from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fish_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fish_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-fish_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-fish_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-fish_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-fish_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-fish_3-6) [Froese, Rainer](/source/Rainer_Froese); [Pauly, Daniel](/source/Daniel_Pauly) (eds.). ["*Rutilus rutilus*"](https://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Rutilus&speciesname=rutilus). *[FishBase](/source/FishBase)*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-scot_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-scot_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-scot_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-scot_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-scot_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-scot_4-5) ["Scottish Government: Marine environment: Roach"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200728184325/https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marine-environment/species/fish/freshwater/roach). Archived from [the original](https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marine-environment/species/fish/freshwater/roach) on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["*Rutilus rutilus caspicus*"](http://www.caspianenvironment.org/biodb/eng/fishes/Rutilus%20rutilus%20caspicus/main.htm). Retrieved 2006-05-14.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) *Rutilus rutilus caspicus* (Jakowlew, 1870) Roach fact sheet about a [Caspian subspecies](/source/Rutilus_caspicus). caspianenvironment.org

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** R. Kortet & J. Taskinen (7 May 2004). "Parasitism, condition and number of front head breeding tubercles in roach (*Rutilus rutilus* L.)". *Ecology of Freshwater Fish*. **13** (2): 119–124. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2004EcoFF..13..119K](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004EcoFF..13..119K). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1600-0633.2004.00039.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1600-0633.2004.00039.x).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Raine Kortet; Jouni Taskinen; Anssi Vainikka & Hannu Ylönen (August 2004). "Breeding Tubercles, Papillomatosis and Dominance Behaviour of Male Roach (*Rutilus rutilus*) During the Spawning Period". *Ethology*. **110** (8): 591–601. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2004Ethol.110..591K](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004Ethol.110..591K). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1439-0310.2004.01002.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1439-0310.2004.01002.x).

## External links

- [Family Cyprinidae](http://www.asfb.org.au/committees/alien-fishes/cyprinid.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140303172116/http://www.asfb.org.au/committees/alien-fishes/cyprinid.htm) 2014-03-03 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Australian Society for Fish Biology

- [All About Roach](http://www.total-fishing.com/roach/)

Taxon identifiers Rutilus rutilus Wikidata: Q182976 Wikispecies: Rutilus rutilus ADW: Rutilus_rutilus AFD: Rutilus_rutilus BioLib: 15563 BOLD: 71153 CoL: 4TTHT EoL: 205274 EPPO: RUTIRU Fauna Europaea: 304543 Fauna Europaea (new): cd7b8553-5670-4851-9a2d-34eb66afe8d9 FishBase: 272 GBIF: 2359706 GISD: 1765 iNaturalist: 69989 IRMNG: 11176676 ISC: 66337 ITIS: 163761 IUCN: 19787 NBN: NHMSYS0000544738 NCBI: 48668 Observation.org: 2184 OBIS: 154333 Open Tree of Life: 421037 Plazi: C203BE6F-DE56-AFE5-29F0-0434049542E6 WoRMS: 154333 ZooBank: 191960EB-085E-40E0-859A-1665D209C9AF Cyprinus rutilus Wikidata: Q67141950 CoL: 33HYN EUNIS: 10245 GBIF: 2359711 IRMNG: 10841138 WoRMS: 154335

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Common roach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_roach) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_roach?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.