Ruff-nosary, known as the brook fish, and often referred to as the brooch for small dimensions, has long been known for its taste in the habitat regions. The rhinoceros ear is considered the most delicious, surpassing the much more famous one - sterlet. Once Peter the Great was conquered by this dish. After the tsar got acquainted with the fish soup from the brooks, carts with a seemingly unremarkable fish began to be delivered to the court, and the ruff, revered by hunters for river inhabitants, received a resounding nickname.
What do the little bugs look like?
It’s not for nothing that the turkey fish is called “ruff-nosar”. The fish resembles its brothers, but has significant differences in structure:
- the body is more elongated, the hump is not so pronounced;
- scales about 1.5 times smaller, completely covers, even present on the head;
- the snout is noticeably elongated, has a shape resembling a cone, small mouth and bulging round eyes;
- body color is not bright - the back has a greenish tone, the sides are yellowish, the stomach is silver-whitish;
- the sides and dorsal fin are covered with small dark spots of no particular order (the Danube rhinoceros can be distinguished by the stripes that formed by the merging of these spots);
- on the front fin of the back there are more prickly rays, the anal one is also equipped with them;
- the average size is 12-15 centimeters with a weight of 100-150 grams, larger individuals reach 22 centimeters and somewhat heavier up to 250 grams.
The appearance is recognizable and characteristic, even if you see the fish of the turkeys in the photo, and not in reality, it is hardly possible to confuse it with others afterwards. As with simple ruffs, the body of a little brooch covers mucus, which is rather difficult to wash off with water. For this fact and the spiky fins, these very tasty fish are not always loved by those who have to deal with cooking them for food.
Where is the biryuk fish found?
The range of nosars is very characteristic and limited to the rivers of the basins of the Black and Azov Seas, and their northern part.
He likes fast currents and never settles in lake water, even flowing.
In habitats, abundance is usually large. It is considered a numerous species, whose fate does not cause concern, only in the Ukrainian Red Book since 2009 is included as disappearing.
Fish love a clean bottom, preferably sandy, with stony or cartilaginous (with coarse sand and pebbles) shallows. It does not settle in rivers with cold water, fed by a large number of keys.
Spawns in the same place where it usually lives. The distribution and movement of the species occurs slowly, gradually, in the periods after spawning.
Lifestyle features
The fish of the turkeys does not have a swimming bladder and therefore is capable of leading a near-bottom lifestyle, easily floating to the surface.
More active at night.
Rarely found in the lower reaches of the rivers, it also makes no sense to look for active nosers during precipitation - a few days before their precipitation or cooling, the fish go further into the depths, from the shallows into the pits.
The fish is recognized as quite lazy, therefore it does not provide a good nibble on a very fast floating nozzle.
Propagate by caviar. This happens in late April - the first part of May. A medium-sized female spawns about 8,000 eggs of weak stickiness on various underwater surfaces.
The number of combining fish begins to grow from the end of July. Already in September, they leave for the deepest places, where they remain until the period of ice breaking.
The brooks are credited with a long life - without interventions by predators and unusual negative factors, individuals can survive up to 15-20 years. However, when kept in a cage, it quickly dies. Tender rhinoceros cannot withstand being in water with asleep fish, crowding and over-filling of the mucus secreted by it.
Food preferences
Despite its small size, the turkey fish is very voracious. Fishermen often note a full stomach in the caught animals, as well as the inability of the nosar to abandon the captured bait until it is eaten completely. The regulars of fishing are debating about the preference of the spagot in the bait - a worm or bloodworm? Often there are opinions in favor of the first.
Biryuchki are predators who prefer to feed on small aquatic insects, worms, crustaceans, snails, larvae (especially mosquitoes).
Who knows what his name is
Each area has awarded turquoise fish with its name.
- In the upper reaches of the Dnieper you can often hear the name "nosar".
- Voronezh fishermen affectionately call him "little sweetheart."
- In Kiev, the word "beaver" is used.
- Inhabitants of the lower Don can call the fish "pig."
- Ruff-nosary is also known as the "Don".
Whichever of the above names is used, we are talking about the famous royal fish, which was once shipped in large quantities to the capital from a distance, and in modern times, which does not have commercial value, but is very valuable and respected by connoisseurs and amateurs.