Description
The roach is typically a small fish, often reaching no more than about 35 cm (14 inches). Maximum length is 45 cm. The body has a blueish silvery colour and becomes white at the belly. The fins are red. The number of scales along the lateral line is 39-48. The dorsal and anal fin has 12-14 rays. Young specimens have a slender build, older specimens get a higher and broader body shape. The roach can often be recognized by the big red spot in the iris above and beside the pupil. Colours of the eye and fins can be very pale however in some environments.
In Central and Northern Europe, the common roach can most easily be confused with the common rudd (Scardinius erythropthalmus), the dace (Leuciscus leuciscus) or the ide (Leuciscus idus). They can however be distinguished by the following characters:
- The common rudd has a more yellow/greenish or golden colour. The backfin is placed more backwards and between the tip of the ventral scales and the first ray of the anal fin there are only one or two scales. The roach has 4 or 5 scales there. The mouth of the rudd is more upturned and the head appears sharper.
- The dace has a greenish body, colorless eyes and fins and a distinct 'nose'.
- The ide has a higher number of scales along the lateral line (55-61), a rounder body and a bigger mouth and head.
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