Asp

The asp (Leuciscus aspius) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, minnows and related fishes. This species is found in continental Europe and western Asia.

Distribution

The asp is native to large lowland rivers and lakes in Europe. It is native to river systems which drain into the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Aegean Sea, Caspian Sea and Aral Sea. In the North and Baltic Sea drainages this species occurs from the drainages of the Weser and Elbe east, including southern Norway, Sweden and Finland to the Baltic states. It is found in most of the river systems draining into the Black Sea and Sea of Azov but is not found on the Crimean Peninsula, the coastal drainages in Bulgaria south of the Danube Delta, northern Turkey east of the Yenice River, Georgia, and the Russian coast east of the Kerch Strait. Asps are found in all of the rivers draining into the Caspian Sea, except for those on the eastern coast. In the Balkans it is found only in the drainage systems of the Struma and Maritsa in Greece and Bulgaria, and also in Lake Volvi, Greece.

Outside of its native range the asp has been artificially introduced to the Scheldt in France, Belgium and the Netherlands; the Rhine in Germany; the Seine and Loire rivers in France; the Muga River in Spain; the Po River in Italy; the Northern Dvina River in Russia; and Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan.