About Sander volgensis (Gmelin, 1789)
The Volga pikeperch, with the scientific name Sander volgensis (Gmelin, 1789), is considerably smaller than the zander, also called common pike-perch (Sander lucioperca). It reaches a maximum total length of 40 cm (16 in) and a maximum weight of 2 kg (4.4 lb). It can be distinguished from Sander lucioperca by its lack of large, canine teeth similar in shape to vampire fangs. Its body color is more silvery-grey than green, and it has much more clearly distinguishable dark stripes along its sides. Its second dorsal fin has between nineteen and twenty-one branched soft rays, and the number of scales along the lateral line ranges from seventy to eighty-three. This species is distributed in the northern Black Sea basin, from the Danube (as far upstream as Vienna) to the Kuban River drainages. It also occurs in the Caspian Sea basin, within the Volga River and Ural River drainages. It lives in large, turbid rivers and lakes, as well as brackish estuaries, and may undertake short breeding migrations.
