Black Sea roach
EN

Black Sea roach

Rutilus meidingeri

UnknownENEUENEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutilus_meidingeri

Overview

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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.

FRESHWATER· major

Other threatened species in Cyprinidae

Iberian-RoachVU

Iberian-Roach

Squalius alburnoides

Unknown
French naseVU

French nase

Parachondrostoma toxostoma

Unknown
VU

Menderes barbel

Luciobarbus kottelati

Unknown
Ohrid spirlinVU

Ohrid spirlin

Alburnoides ohridanus

Unknown

Threatened in Austria

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Anthophore estivaleCR

Anthophore estivale

Anthophora aestivalis

Unknown
Adonis BlueVU

Adonis Blue

Lysandra bellargus

Unknown
agnhodeedderkoppCR

agnhodeedderkopp

Walckenaeria alticeps

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Black Sea roach classified as Endangered?
Black Sea roach is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. 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.
Where does Black Sea roach live?
Black Sea roach occurs in Austria, Bulgaria, and Germany. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Black Sea roach?
The main threats to Black Sea roach are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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