The Common Roach (Rutilus rutilus) is a freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family of roaches.
The Common Roach is a bluish-silvery fish with a white belly. Its fins are red. It has pale-coloured eyes with a red spot in its iris above and beside its pupil.
It grows to about 35-50 centimetres (14-20 inches) in length.
The Common Roach is native to most of Europe and western Asia. It prefers freshwater, but it can also live in brackish (salty) water. It is adaptable to a range of habitats.
It eats aquatic plants and invertebrates.
It lives in groups called schools. The males form the schools, and females enter the schools during the breeding season.
The female lays up to 100,000 eggs.
Location: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM