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Glite Dictionary
ruffe

ruffe

1 9.9
A small freshwater fish like a perch with spiny fins
  • noun
  • UK
: ruffe
  • The ruffe is known for its distinct spiny fins and can often be found in freshwater rivers.

Examples

  • The ruffe, a small fish related to the perch, thrives in various freshwater ecosystems across Europe.

  • The ruffe has the potential to disperse throughout much of North America and become a major competitor with other fish species throughout the Great Lakes.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The European ruffe, a spiny-rayed percid introduced with ballast water, was first identified in Lake Superior in 1986 (Pratt et al. 1992).

    Academic text (1994)

  • Should ruffe become established in Lake Erie, the site of the world's largest yellow perch and walleye fisheries, the potential economic impact could reach an annual economic loss of $90 million (Anonymous 1992).

    Academic text (1994)

  • Fishermen are concerned about the ruffe's rapid spread in European lakes, as it competes with native species.

Surface Forms

ruffe singular
ruffes plural

Etymology

Ruffe probably comes from an old German word meaning 'rough', which is a helpful memory hook because this small freshwater fish has spiny, rough fins. That's why the name ruffe fits a small, spiny fish.