Eurasian minnow

About

The Eurasian minnow, or goryan, is a small schooling fish that is easiest to spot in the clear Carpathian streams: dozens of fish stand in shallow water against the current and scatter immediately when a shadow falls on the water. In Ukraine, the Eurasian minnow lives in the waters of the Carpathians, as well as in some rivers of Crimea and the Dnieper basin. It prefers rivers and streams with fast currents, cold water, and sandy or rocky bottoms, and often coexists with brook trout. Minnows from the Carpathian rivers of the Danube basin — Tysa and Prut — are often classified as a separate species, Phoxinus marsilii: according to the Catalog of Fishes, it is distributed in the middle and lower Danube basin, particularly in Ukraine.

The fish grows up to 12 cm long, but usually measures 8–9 cm, and weighs up to 15 g. The scales are very small, the back is greenish-brown, the sides have dark spots or stripes, and the belly is light.

Spawning lasts from May to July, in several stages, in shallow areas of the river. During this time, males change beyond recognition: the edges of the gill covers, lips, chest, and bases of the fins turn red, while the lower jaw becomes black.

The Eurasian minnow feeds on aquatic insects, their larvae, and small crustaceans, and is a primary food source for trout, grayling, and Danube salmon. Therefore, where there are many minnows, larger predatory fish usually thrive.

The Eurasian minnow is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Ukraine · Serbia · Czechia · Romania · Poland · Slovakia

Mountain ranges

Krasna Polonyna, Vihorlat-Gutin Volcanic Ridge, Kučaj Mountains and Beljanica, Skole Beskids, Watershed Ridge, Gorgany, Polonynian Ridge, Maramureș Mountains, Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Bieszczady

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

Where to fish in the Carpathians

This species is not marked on our water pages yet.

Fishing in the Carpathians ›

FAQ