Datasheet
Tinca tinca (tench)
Don't need the entire report?
Generate a print friendly version containing only the sections you need.
Generate report
Identity
Top of page
Preferred Scientific Name Tinca tinca (Linnaeus, 1758) Preferred Common Name Other Scientific Names Cyprinus tinca Linnaeus, 1758 Cyprinus tinca auratus Bloch, 1782 Cyprinus tincaauratus Bloch, 1782 Cyprinus tincauratus Lacepède, 1803 Cyprinus tincaurea Shaw, 1804 Cyprinus zeelt Lacepède, 1803 Tinca aurea Gmelin, 1788 Tinca chrysitis Fitzinger, 1832 Tinca communis Swainson, 1839 Tinca italica Bonaparte, 1836 Tinca limosa Koch, 1840 Tinca linnei Malm, 1877 Tinca vulgaris Fleming, 1828 Tinca vulgaris cestellae Segre, 1904 Tinca vulgaris maculata Costa, 1838 International Common Names English:
green tenchFrench:
aiguillon; aiguillons; beuroteLocal Common Names Czech Republic:
lienGermany:
aliaGreece:
glini; glíniaHungary:
compóIceland:
grunnungurIndia:
doctor-fishIran:
laaymahi; lai ahiIreland:
curamanTurkey:
kadife baligi
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of page
Tinca tinca was introduced into the River Murray in 1876 and has spread rapidly throughout the Murray-Darling System. A small population has been reported in the Onkaparinga River. Numbers were reduced in the 1970s when the common carp population increased. T. tinca do not represent a serious threat to native fish in Australia.
The US Fish Commission imported T. tinca into North America from Germany in 1877 for use as a food and sport fish, distributing it to some 36 states during the late nineteenth century. Although most T. tinca introductions were the result of intentional stockings, some introductions were the result of escape from holding facilities. Recent studies indicate that T. tinca is no longer present in areas it had been introduced to or in some case was temporarily established. Baughman (1947) presented evidence suggesting that the presence of centrarchids somehow prevented the more widespread establishment of T. tinca in the USA.
Their omnivorous diet and tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions has lead to some countries labelling tench an invasive species, due to concerns over competition with native fish (ISSG, 2011 ).
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page
Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Metazoa Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae Genus: Tinca Species: Tinca tinca
Description
Top of page
Tinca tinca has 4 dorsal spines, 8-9 dorsal soft rays, 3-4 anal spines, 6-8 anal soft rays and a caudal fin with 19 rays. T. tinca has a thickset, heavy and laterally-compressed body, with a deep and short caudal peduncle. The skin is thick and slimy with small scales embedded. It is usually olive-green but at times dark green or almost black, with golden reflections on the ventral surface. The head is triangular, with orange-red eyes and a relatively long rounded snout. The mouth is terminal, small with thick lips and a pair of well-developed barbels, one at each corner of the mouth. Fully grown, T. tinca is 64 cm (25 inches) long and weighs some 7.5 kg (16 pounds). In the male, the first two rays of the pelvic fins are very thick and this fin is long enough to completely cover the anal opening. Most males reach maturity when they are 3 years old, averaging 9.5 cm; females mature at 4 years of age, measuring 12.5 cm.
Distribution
Top of page
Tinca tinca is distributed throughout the whole of Europe, with the exception of northern Scandinavia, the northern part of Scotland, the Crimea and the western part of the Balkan Peninsula; it is also found in many parts of western Asia. It can be found even in the mildly salty water of the eastern Baltic. It is found in many states in the USA (Nico and Fuller, 2011 ).
Distribution Table
Top of page
The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Continent/Country/Region Distribution Last Reported Origin First Reported Invasive Reference Notes Asia Armenia Present Native FishBase,
2004 Azerbaijan Present Native FishBase,
2004 China Present Native FishBase,
2004 Georgia (Republic of) Present Native FishBase,
2004 India Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 Indonesia Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 Iran Present Native FishBase,
2004 Israel Present Introduced DAISIE,
2011 Japan Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 Jordan No information available Froese and Pauly,
2011 Not established Kazakhstan Present Native FishBase,
2004 Kyrgyzstan Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 Mongolia Present Native Froese and Pauly,
2011 Turkey Present Native FishBase,
2004 Uzbekistan Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 Africa Madagascar No information available Froese and Pauly,
2011 Not established Morocco Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 South Africa Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 Tunisia No information available Froese and Pauly,
2011 Not established Zambia No information available Froese and Pauly,
2011 Not established Zimbabwe Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 North America Canada Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 -British Columbia Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 USA Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 ; USGS,
2004 -Alabama Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Arizona Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Arkansas Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -California Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Colorado Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Connecticut Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Delaware Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Florida Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Georgia Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Idaho Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Illinois Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Indiana Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Iowa Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Kansas Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Kentucky Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Louisiana Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Maryland Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Massachusetts Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Michigan Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Mississippi Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Missouri Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Nebraska Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Nevada Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -New Jersey Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -New Mexico Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -New York Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -North Carolina Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Ohio Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Oklahoma Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Oregon Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Pennsylvania Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -South Carolina Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Tennessee Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Texas Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Utah Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Vermont Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Virginia Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Washington Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -West Virginia Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 -Wisconsin Present Introduced Nico and Fuller,
2011 South America Chile Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 Europe Albania Present Native Froese and Pauly,
2011 Austria Present Native FishBase,
2004 Belarus Present Native FishBase,
2004 Belgium Present Native Froese and Pauly,
2011 Bulgaria Present Native FishBase,
2004 Croatia Present Native FishBase,
2004 Czech Republic Present Native FishBase,
2004 Denmark Present Native FishBase,
2004 Estonia Present Native FishBase,
2004 Finland Present Native FishBase,
2004 France Present Native FishBase,
2004 Germany Present Native FishBase,
2004 Greece Present Native FishBase,
2004 ; DAISIE,
2011 Hungary Present Native FishBase,
2004 Ireland Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 ; DAISIE,
2011 Italy Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 Latvia Present Native FishBase,
2004 Lithuania Present Native FishBase,
2004 Macedonia Present Native FishBase,
2004 Moldova Present Native Froese and Pauly,
2011 Netherlands Present Native FishBase,
2004 Norway Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 ; DAISIE,
2011 ; NOBANIS,
2011 Poland Present Native FishBase,
2004 Portugal Present Native FishBase,
2004 Romania Present Native FishBase,
2004 Russian Federation Present Native FishBase,
2004 Slovakia Present Native FishBase,
2004 Slovenia Present Native FishBase,
2004 Spain Present Native FishBase,
2004 Sweden Present Native FishBase,
2004 Switzerland Present Native FishBase,
2004 UK Present Native FishBase,
2004 -Scotland Present Native Froese and Pauly,
2011 Ukraine Present Native FishBase,
2004 Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) Present Native FishBase,
2004 Oceania Australia Present Introduced FishBase,
2004 New Zealand Present Introduced FishBase,
2004
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of page
See Nico and Fuller (2011) for a history of introduction of this species in the USA.
Introductions
Top of page
Introduced to Introduced from Year Reason Introduced by Established in wild through References Notes Natural reproduction Continuous restocking Australia
1876
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Canada
USA
1895
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Chile
1908
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Cyprus
Hungary
1984
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown FishBase (2004)
Finland
Poland
1936
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
India
UK
1870
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Indonesia
Netherlands
1927
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Ireland
UK
1700-1799
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Italy
pre-1700s
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Japan
1953
Aquaculture (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Japan
Netherlands
1961
Aquaculture (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Jordan
Europe
1947
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown FishBase (2004)
Madagascar
France
1936
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown FishBase (2004)
Morocco
France
1945
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
New Zealand
Tasmania
1867
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Norway
Netherlands
1820
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Portugal
Spain
pre-1700s
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
South Africa
UK
1896
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Tunisia
Morocco
1965
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown FishBase (2004)
USA
Germany
1877
Aquaculture (pathway cause)
, Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Government
Yes
FishBase (2004) ; Nico and Fuller (2011)
Zambia
USA
1946
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown FishBase (2004)
Zimbabwe
South Africa
1920
Hunting, angling, sport or racing (pathway cause) Unknown
Yes
FishBase (2004)
Habitat List
Top of page
Category Sub-Category Habitat Presence Status Freshwater
Brackish
Natural Food Sources
Top of page
Food Source Life Stage Contribution to Total Food Intake (%) Details
bottom sediment
Adult
21.2
zooplankton
Adult
43.8
Climate
Top of page
Climate Status Description Remark C - Temperate/Mesothermal climate
Preferred
Average temp. of coldest month > 0°C and < 18°C, mean warmest month > 10°C
Air Temperature
Top of page
Parameter
Lower limit
Upper limit
Mean maximum temperature of hottest month (ºC)
24
Mean minimum temperature of coldest month (ºC)
4
Impact Summary
Top of page
Category Impact
Fisheries / aquaculture
Positive
Tourism
Positive
Uses List
Top of page
Animal feed, fodder, forage Human food and beverage Canned meat Fresh meat Frozen meat Live product for human consumption Whole
References
Top of page
Arkhipchuk VV, 1999. Chromosome database. Database of Dr. Victor Arkhipchuk. Ukraine.
Baughman JL, 1947. The tench in America. Journal of Wildlife Management, 11(3):197-204.
Breton B; Horoszewicz L; Bieniarz K; Epler P, 1980. Temperature and reproduction in tench: effect of a rise in the annual temperature regime on gonadotropin level, gametogenesis and spawning. 2. The female. Reproduction, Nutrition, Developpement, 20(4A):1011-1024.
Breton B; Horoszewicz L; Billard R; Bieniarz K, 1980. Temperature and reproduction in tench: effect of a rise in the annual temperature regime on gonadotrophin level, gametogenesis and spawning. 1. The male. Reproduction, Nutrition, Developpement, 20(1A):105-118.
Buchtová H; Svobodová Z; Flajshans M; Vorlová L, 2003. Analysis of slaughtering value of diploid and triploid population of tench (Tinca tinca, Linnaeus 1758). Czech Journal of Animal Science, 48(7):285-294.
Bulinski R; Kutulas K, 1970. Choline content of freshwater and sea fish. Medycyna Weterynaryjna, 26(4):229-231.
Carral JM; Rodriguez R; Celada JD; Sáez-Royuela M; Aguilera A; Melendre P, 2003. Successful gonadal development and maturation of tench (Tinca tinca L.) in small concrete ponds. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 19(3):130-131.
DAISIE, 2011. European Invasive Alien Species Gateway. http://www.europe-aliens.org/
FishBase, 2004. Entry for Tinca tinca. Main ref. Kottelat M, 1997. European freshwater fishes. Biologia 52, Suppl. 5:84. Online at www.fishbase.org. Accessed 26 February 2004.
Flajshans M; Billard R, 1995. Preface. In: The International Workshop on the Biology and Culture of the Tench, Tinca tinca, Ohrada Hunting Lodge, Czech Republic, 28 August-1 September, 1994. Polish Archives of Hydrobiology, 42:5-6.
Flajshans M; Linhart O; Kvasnicka P, 1993. Genetic studies of tench (Tinca tinca L.): induced triploidy and tetraploidy and first performance data. Aquaculture, 113(4):301-312.
Froese R; Pauly D, 2011. FishBase. http://www.fishbase.org
Horoszewicz L, 1983. Reproductive rhythm in Tench, Tinca Tinca (L.), in fluctuating temperatures. Aquaculture, 32(1/2):79-92.
ISSG, 2011. Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). Invasive Species Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. http://www.issg.org/database
Klinkhardt M; Tesche M; Greven H, 1995. Database of fish chromosomes. Westarp Wissenschaften, 179 pp.
Kouril J, 1987. Induced ovulation of the female tench (Tinca tinca L.): effect of the numbers and levels of pituitary injections on the results of stripping. Práce VU^acute~RH Vodnany, No. 16:53-61.
Kouril J; Barth J, 1981. Ovulation induction by LHRH to facilitate artificial stripping of tench (Tinca tinca). Buletin VURH Vodnany, 17(1):13-18.
Kouril J; Barth T; Hamácková J, 1981. The use of arginine-vasotocin and LHRH for induction of ovulation and artificial spawning of tench (Tinca tinca). Reprodukce, genetika a hybridizace ryb. Vedecká konference, Milenovice 28.-30. ríjna 1980., 78-81.
Kouril J; Barth T; Hamácková J; Flegel M; Krchnák V; Pospísek J, 1986. Testing the effects of some analogues of LHRH on the induction of ovulation in female tench (Tinca tinca). Buletin VU^acute~RH Vodnany, 22(3):3-12.
Kouril J; Barth T; Hamácková J; Flegel M; Prikryl I, 1986. Induced ovulation in female tench (Tinca tinca) following an injection of hypophysis and LHRH analogues into different body regions. Buletin VU^acute~RH Vodnany, 22(2):30-39.
Kouril J; Barth T; Hamácková J; Slaninová J; Servítová L; Machácek J; Flegel M, 1983. The use of LHRH and its analogue for inducing ovulation in the tench, grass carp, common carp and wels. Buletin VU^acute~RH Vodnany, 19(2):3-16.
Kouril J; Hamácková J; Linhart O, 1984. The artificial reproduction of tench. Chov lína a jeho perspektivy., 24-31.
Kouril J; Mikodina EV; Glubokov AI; Hamácková J; Barth T; Flegel M; Charvátová J, 1989. The use of [D-Glu(NH-Ad), Trp, Leu] GnRH for ovulation induction in female tench (Tinca tinca). Buletin VU^acute~RH Vodnany, 25(1):8-13.
Kouril J; Mikodina EV; Navolotskii VI; Hamácková J; Vachta R; Velek J; Bláha I; Barth T, 1990. The effect of salmon GnRH on the induction of ovulation in female tench (Tinca tinca). Buletin - Vyzkumny U^acute~stav Rybársky a Hydrobiologicky Vodnany, 26(3):7-10.
Kvasnicka P; Flajshans M, 1992. The incidence of natural triploids in selected populations of tench (Tinca tinca). Sborník - Jihoceská Univerzita, Zemedelská Fakulta, Ceské, Budejovice, Zootechniká Rada, 9(special issue):221-222.
Morawska B, 1984. The effect of water temperature elevation on incipient and cumulative fecundity of batch-spawning tench, Tinca tinca (L.). Aquaculture, 42(3-4):273-288.
Nabrzyski M, 1975. Mercury, copper and zinc in the flesh of some freshwater fish species. Bromatologia i Chemia Toksykologiczna, 8(3):313-319.
Nico L; Fuller P, 2011. Tinca tinca. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, Florida, USA: USGS. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=652
NOBANIS, 2011. North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species. http://www.nobanis.org/
Pyka J, 1997. Daily feeding cycle tench, Tinca tinca (L.), in larval and fry stages in the conditions of pond culture. An attempt to determine daily food ration. Archiwum Rybactwa Polskiego, 5(2):279-290; 16 ref.
Rab P; Flajshans M; Linhart O, 2002. Tench - its domestication and colour mutations (in Czech). Ziva, 6:272-275.
Svobodova Z; Kolarova J, 2004. A review of the diseases and contaminant related mortalities of tench (Tinca tinca L.). Veterinární Medicína, 49(1):19-34.
USGS, 2004. Nonindigenous aquatic species database. Tinca tinca (Linnaeus, 1758). Online at http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/SpFactSheet.asp?speciesID=652. Accessed 3 March 2004.
Wedekind H; Rennert B; Kohlmann K, 2003. Product quality in different strains of tench (Tinca tinca) tested under controlled environmental conditions. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 19(3):174-176.
Wheeler A, 1969. The fishes of the British Isles and North-west Europe. Michigan, USA: Michigan State University Press.
Contributors
Top of page
Main Author
Distribution Maps
Top of page
You can pan and zoom the map
Save map
Unsupported Web Browser:
One or more of the features that are needed to show you the maps functionality are not available in the web browser that you are using.
Please consider upgrading your browser to the latest version or installing a new browser.
More information about modern web browsers can be found at http://browsehappy.com/
