About Pelecus cultratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pelecus cultratus, commonly known as the ziege, has an appearance similar to a large Baltic herring. It reaches a typical length of 25 to 40 cm (10 to 16 inches). The species has a curved keel on its belly when viewed from the side, and an almost straight back. It has an upturned snout, and the tip of its lower jaw also slopes steeply upward. Its wavy lateral line sits very low on the flank, and its pectoral fin is long and pointed. The ziege is a pale, silvery fish with nearly colourless fins. This species occurs in the waters of the Baltic states and Eastern Europe. It can also be found in the following other European and Asian countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Ziege usually swim near the surface in estuaries and lakes, and some populations live permanently in rivers and streams.
