Ruffe
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Name and Code
Family
Percidae - perches and darters
Species
Gymnocephalus cernua
Taxonomic Authority
(Linnaeus 1758)
Common Name(s)
Ruffe
French Name
grémille
Species Code
350
Family TSN
168356
Parent TSN
168519
Species TSN
168520
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (1996-09-25)
National Rank (NRank)
NNA (2017-12-22)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SNA (1997-10-02)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
introduced
General Abundance
limited distribution
Tolerance
intermediate
Economic Importance
invasive species
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-5.1463
Slope (b)
3.1337
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthopelagic
Trophic Class
invertivore
Thermal Regime
coolwater
Habitat Preference
lakes and lowland rivers; prefers still or slow-flowing waters over soft bottom, without vegetation
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Phyto-lithophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
April-June
Spawning Temperature (°C)
6-18
Fecundity
6,900-200,000
Nursery Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
11.4-20.3 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
0.018-0.095
Age at Maturity (yrs)
1-3 (m); 2-4 (f)
Maximum Length (cm)
29 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
0.4
Lifespan (yrs)
3-7 (m); 7-11 (f)
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
21.2 TL
Record Weight (kg)
0.126
Ontario Range Map
Ruffe range
Ontario Distribution
Lake Superior (Thunder Bay), Kaministiquia River; introduced with ballast water into Lake Superior in 1985; first reported from Ontario waters in 1991
Photographs
Ruffe photograph
Ruffe photograph
Notes
native to Europe and Asia; moderately intolerant of turbidity; use as bait prohibited
Information Sources
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