Scardinius erythrophthalmus - Rudd

Taxonomy

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Rudd are found in lakes and canals throughout Wales and in some of the slow-flowing rivers on the eastern side of Wales.

These attractive shoal fish thrive in lowland lakes with rich vegetation and plenty of invertebrate life forms. In summer, Rudd rise to take small insects from the surface, and they can sometimes be caught using dry fly tactics.

The bright red fins of Rudd are helpful distinguishing features, but definite identification is made difficult because rudd can hybridise with roach, bream and dace.

A Rudd of two pounds is a specimen fish, although they can grow quite a lot bigger in ideal conditions.

Rudd are very variable in appearance The British rod-caught record Rudd, landed from a lake in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, in 2001, weighed a massive 4 lb 10 oz (2.1kg). The captor was Mr Simon Parry.