Silver bream
Otolith description
Otoliths of cyprinidae are very hard to determine to species level. The otoliths are all round with a remarkable horseshoe shaped sulcus that is directed downwards. The margins are jagged and indented at the ostium.
Five species have otoliths that tend to be somewhat different from the others. Tench Tinca tinca tends to be more oval shaped instead of round, compared to the other cyprinidae. On gudgeon Gobio gobio otoliths the margins tend to be smoother, probably because this is only a small fish and the otoliths are not well developed. Bitterling Rhodeus sericeus is the smallest of the cyprinidae and otoliths are not well developed either. They are smoother at the margins and the sulcus is hardly visible. Roach Rutilus rutilus otoliths have a posterior end that tends to be straight instead of round. The otoliths of rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus are more jagged and pointed at the ventral margin.
Sizes of otoliths:
gudgeon, bitterling: <2,5 mm
silver bream, roach, rudd: <8 mm
tench, bream, ide: <10 mm
carp: otoliths > 10 mm are always carp otoliths
When eroded the otoliths of all cyprinidae are smoothed, but the sulcus remains visible.
Cyprinidae are a family of fish that have well-developed pharyngeal teeth and chewing pads. These are very useful for specific identification of the different fish species (Wheeler, 1978, Veldkamp, 1994, 1995); also because these fish remains are less vulnerable to erosion by the stomach acid.
Pharyngeal teeth description
Pharyngeal teeth of silver bream have two rows of teeth, the first with 5 larger teeth and the second with 2 smaller teeth. The teeth are long and thin and slightly hooked at the tips.
Chewing pad description
The chewing pad of silver bream is round with a smooth surface on the inside. Its widest line runs centrally, and is thus positioned between that of tench Tinca tinca and bream Abramis brama.
Fish length and distribution
Silver bream can grow up to 40 cm. Silver bream is a common freshwater fish that is found in slow flowing waters among the vegetation of the shores. In contrast to bream it may intrude into brackish waters. It spawns in shallow waters in June and July (Wheeler, 1978, Nijssen and De Groot, 1987, De Nie, 1996).
Silver bream is a common fish throughout Europe.
Sample origin
Northern part of the Netherlands.