Black Sea roach
Rutilus meidingeri
Rutilus meidingeri, the pearlfish, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, Eurasian minnows and related fishes. This species is currently thought to be endemic to Austria but it may occur in Slovakia or Hungary.
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Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutilus_meidingeri
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Cypriniformes
Family
Cyprinidae
Genus
Rutilus
Black Sea roach belongs to the family Cyprinidae, order Cypriniformes, within the unknown class.
Species Profile
Rutilus meidingeri, the pearlfish, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, Eurasian minnows and related fishes. This species is currently thought to be endemic to Austria but it may occur in Slovakia or Hungary.
The Black Sea roach faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat degradation from dam construction, water pollution, and overfishing in its limited freshwater range. Climate change and invasive species further compound these pressures on this endemic Balkan fish species.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Rutilus meidingeri is known with certainty only from subalpine lakes in Austria, although the IUCN state that it is found in the Chiemsee in Bavaria as well as Attersee, Mondsee, Wolfgangsee and Traunsee. It has also been recorded in the Traun river and in the main channel of the Danube. Records in the Danube downstream from Austria are thought to refer to vagrants.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Black Sea roach faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat degradation from dam construction, water pollution, and overfishing in its limited freshwater range. Climate change and invasive species further compound these pressures on this endemic Balkan fish species.
Dam construction and river regulation
Water pollution from agricultural and industrial sources
Climate change affecting water temperature and flow
Invasive species competition
Overfishing and unsustainable harvesting
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | ENEndangered | ENEndangered | Same |
| EU | ENEndangered | ENEndangered | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Black Sea roach (Rutilus meidingeri). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/black-sea-roach