Verkhogliad

Verkhogliad

 

(Erythroculter erythropterus), a fish of the carp family, distributed in the Amur basin and in rivers of China. Length, up to 1 m; weight, up to 9 kg. The mouth is pointed upward, and the eyes are placed high (hence the Russian name, “one who looks up”) to facilitate capture of prey near the surface of the water. It reaches sexual maturity in its fifth or sixth year and spawns in June to July. The roe floats deep in the water. The adult fish feeds mainly on small fishes and also on the larvae of insects; the young feed on zooplankton and insect larvae. The verkhogliad is used commercially.