Zope

Identification

The zope is a rare cyprinid of 20-35 cm with a laterally compressed, deep body. Its most striking feature is the extremely long anal fin running along nearly half the belly — longer than any other Dutch cyprinid. The back is blue-grey, the flanks silvery. The mouth is small and angled upward. Resembles silver bream but is slenderer with a longer anal fin.

Ecology

Lives in slow-flowing rivers and large, deep lakes. Schools in open water, feeding on plankton, insect larvae, and small crustaceans.

In the Netherlands

A very rare species with only 2 records in our database. More common in Central and Eastern European rivers such as the Danube and Elbe. Dutch records likely involve occasional specimens in the Rhine or Maas drainage. An indicator of undisturbed river habitats.