How to Identify Silver Bream

To identify Silver Bream (Blicca bjoerkna), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

compressed

Coloration

Silvery flanks, darker grey-green to brownish back. Pectoral and pelvic fins are typically reddish-orange, especially in adults, while dorsal and caudal fins are greyish. The eyes are relatively large and yellowish.

Scale type

cycloid

Mouth position

subterminal

Distinctive features

Large, yellowish eyes, Reddish-orange pectoral and pelvic fins, Relatively deep body, but less deep than common Bream, Small, inferior mouth, Lateral line scales typically 43-48

Dorsal fin

Short, with 3 unbranched and 8-9 branched rays. Originates slightly behind the pelvic fin origin.

Tail fin

Deeply forked, with pointed lobes.

Pectoral fin

Relatively long, often reaching or nearly reaching the pelvic fin origin, with a distinct reddish-orange hue.

Distinctive fins

The anal fin is long, with 3 unbranched and 20-26 branched rays. The pelvic fins are also reddish-orange and positioned abdominally.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Body Depth

   The Silver Bream has a deep, laterally compressed body, but it is noticeably less deep than the common Bream (Abramis brama) of similar size. The body depth is typically 2.5-3.0 times in standard length.

2. 2

   Fin Coloration

   The most reliable distinguishing feature is the reddish-orange coloration of the pectoral and pelvic fins, which is absent or much less pronounced in common Bream.

3. 3

   Mouth Position

   The mouth is small and subterminal (slightly inferior), adapted for bottom feeding. The snout is relatively blunt.

4. 4

   Eye Size

   Possesses relatively large, yellowish eyes compared to its head size.

5. 5

   Lateral Line Scales

   Count the scales along the lateral line; Silver Bream typically has 43-48 scales, whereas common Bream usually has 49-58.

6. 6

   Anal Fin Ray Count

   The anal fin has 20-26 branched rays, which is fewer than the common Bream (26-30 branched rays).

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