Hello Folks! It's time to go underwater and explore the wonderful world of UK fish. Some are spotty, some have stripes. Some prefer lakes, others prefer streams. Prepare to get your feet wet and get your fins in a flap!Each Monday for 12 weeks I will be posting a little teaser for you. Without looking in books or on the internet (i.e - no cheating), see if you can identify the UK fish On Wednesday, so as long as no-one has guessed it, I will post one clue. On Friday I will post the answer along with some additional information for your interest.MYSTERY FISH QUIZ #3Clue: According to Mr Walton I am a leather-mouthed fish with teeth in my throat.
Gudgeon for me
To each their own
Am posting this today as I am off up to Cheshire tomorrow to do my dutiful daughter bit. Congratulations to all of you who guessed Gudgeon (Gobio gobio). First, a bit about the clues: According to Mr Walton I am a leather-mouthed fish with teeth in my throat. Here I refer to the (well known!) 1653 publication ‘The Compleat Angler’ by Izaak Walton, who states: “He (Gudgeon) is one of those leather-mouthed fish that has his teeth in his throat, and will hardly be lost off from the hook if he be once stricken...”. The second clue: I’m no baby barbel. Gudgeon are often mistaken for juvenile Barbel. However, Gudgeon have two barbules, one either side of their mouth, whereas Barbel have four. Gudgeon are bottom feeders and use their barbules to search for food.
Belonging to the Cyprinidae family, Gudgeon have an elongated body, large head and a mouth with thick lips. Their back is either silvery blue or greeny brown in colour. Their anal and dorsal fins are spotted. Gudgeon are mainly found in either fast moving streams or rivers and are partial to mayfly larvae, bloodworm and midges as well as molluscs and crustaceans. Preferring to spawn at night in shallow water, Gudgeon rarely grow bigger than seven inches in length.
A picture of a Gudgeon is found here.
Did you know that: Gudgeon are known as Groundling in Germany. This refers to their method of ground feeding.
Keep an eye out for next week’s fish quiz!
Take care,
Claire
I am off up to Cheshire tomorrow
I hope you have your passport Mrs. T ?? !!! watch out for the low flying Bullfinches LOL
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Regards, Hazel
Well done Shane and others. My knowledge of fish is almost non existent. At least I guessed Isaak Walton but that didn't help because I've never read it.
Have a good visit to Cheshire to see your folks, MrsT.
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Tony
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