Species: Tinca tinca
Tench
Species
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Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Cypriniformes
Family
Cyprinidae
Genus
Tinca
NatureServe
Classification
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Fishes - Bony Fishes - Minnows and Carps
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Actinopterygii - Cypriniformes - Cyprinidae - Tinca
Ecology and Life History
Habitat Type Description
Freshwater
Migration
true - false - false
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
Feeds mainly on aquatic insect larvae and molluscs. Young consume some algae.
Reproduction Comments
In Europe spawning occurs from May-August; in eastern U.S., spawns from late May through the third week in June. Females lay about 500,000 eggs per kg of body weight. Eggs hatch in 6-8 days (Moyle 1976). Sexually mature in 3rd or 4th year. May live up to 20-30 years.
Ecology Comments
Generally a slow-moving, sluggish fish. Young trench are preyed upon by predatory fishes. Usually solitary except in summer.
Length
70
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-09-17
Global Status Last Changed
1996-09-17
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
<img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.BC=SE&CA.QC=SE&US.CA=SE&US.CO=SE&US.DE=SE&US.ID=SE&US.NV=SE&US.NM=SE&US.NY=SE&US.OR=SE&US.VT=SE&US.VA=SE&US.WA=SE" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
Global Range
Native to Eurasia, east to Ob and Yenisei basins and Lake Baikal (Lee et al. 1980). Established in British Columbia, Washington, California, Idaho, Colorado, and Connecticut; introduced, but not known to be presently established, in Alberta, Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Virginia (Robins et al. 1991). Lee et al. (1980) mentioned also Delaware as an area where a population possibly may be established. Distributed to 36 states by U.S. Fish Commission in 1886-1896; introduced privately in California; spread to British Columbia from Washington via Columbia River (Lee et al. 1980).