About Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common bream (Abramis brama) most often measure 30 to 55 cm (12 to 22 in) in length, and weigh 2 to 4 kg (4.4 to 8.8 lb). Some specimens have been recorded at 75 cm (30 in), and the species' maximum recorded length is 90 cm (35 in), with a record weight exceeding 9 kg (20 lb). This fish has a laterally flattened, high-backed body and a slightly undershot mouth. Its body is bright silver, though older individuals may turn bronze-coloured, particularly in clear waters. Its fins range from greyish to black, and are never reddish. The native range of common bream covers Europe north of the Alps and Pyrenees, as well as the Balkans. Its range extends east to the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Aral Sea. Common bream inhabit ponds, lakes, canals, and slow-flowing rivers. They generally live in rivers (especially lower reaches of rivers), plus nutrient-rich lakes and ponds that have muddy bottoms and abundant algae. They can also be found in brackish sea waters.
