Local Species of Fish and Crustacians

Names of 58 local species of fish and crabs listed in the three official Swiss languages, including the name of the fish family they belong to and their endangered species status.
 Local Species of Fish and Crustacians (147 KB)
Source: Federal Office for Environment (Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU)

Atlas of Swiss Fish Habitats

This map shows which types of fish and crabs are found in Switzerland, where their habitats are, and how they are distributed throughout the four catchment areas of the Rhine, Rhone, Doubs, Ticino (incl. Adda and Etsch) and Inn rivers.

The most important Fish Species

Grayling (Thymallus thymallus)

A fish living in large rivers, which requires fairly strong currents, fresh oxygen-rich water and pebbles on the ground.

Perch / Egli (Perca fluviatilis)

The Perch or Egli flourishes in the calm and vegetation-rich waters of lakes and slow flowing rivers or streams of the plains. While the young Perch feeds on plankton, as an adult it becomes a feared carnivorous fish.

Whitefish (Coregonus sp.)

A species of fish that belongs to the Salmonides (Trout fish) and lives in open lakes. It feeds mainly on zooplankton.

Carp (Chondrostoma nasus)

It belongs to the family of Cyprinides (Carp Family) and lives in the fast flowing waters of the Grayling and Barbel regions.

Lake and Brook Trout (Salmo trutta)

Two main types: the Brook Trout (Salmo trutta fario) and the Lake Trout (Salmo trutta lacustris). The Brook Trout spends its entire life in fast moving waters. The Lake Trout spends only the first years of its life in streaming water, it then moves to a lake, where it feeds on other fish and reaches a length of over 1 meter and a weight of 10 kg to 15 kg.

Whitefish / Carp Family (Cyprinidae)

This fish family, which has by far the greatest number of species in Switzerland, lives in waters ranging from mountain lakes (Minnow) to ponds that are extremely oxygen-deficient (Tench). Among these are: Redeye Bass, Carp, Tench, Brachsmen, Nase (Chondrostoma nasus), Varione (Leuciscus souffia) and Chub (Alburnoides bipunctatus).

Source: Federal Office for Environment (Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU)