Rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus

The Rudd, called Common Rudd to distinguish from other European/Asian species, is native to well-vegetated freshwater of northern and eastern Europe through to Central Asia. It has been introduced elsewhere. Typically around 25cm long, it can grow to twice that.

It has bright red pelvic, anal and tail fins - hence the name "rudd". There is usually a red tinge on other fins and often red lipstick. The young are silver but the adults generally have a slightly golden, shiny metallic appearance. The mouth is upturned for eating insects on the water surface. There is an enhanced golden variety common in the captive pond trade.

The Rudd can look superficially similar to the Roach (and the smaller-scaled Ide). However, it is the only one with an upturned mouth for surface feeding. The adult Roach tends to be longer-bodied and more blue-grey rather than the golden sheen of the adult Rudd. The Rudd has yellow eyes (even greyish, sometimes orange) whereas those of the Roach are red. The Roach, like other members of the carp family except the Rudd, has a down-turned mouth to feed from river beds and lake floors (and doesn't have red lipstick).

Rudd live in lakes, ponds and slow-flowing rivers.