# Knife (*Pelecus cultratus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/knife  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The knife (Pelecus cultratus) is a bony fish in the family Cyprinidae, subfamily Leuciscinae, within the order Cypriniformes. Other English names for this fish are Ziege, Sichel, Razorfish and Sabrefish. Its scientific name carries the authority (Linnaeus, 1758), and it is placed in the genus Pelecus. The IUCN Red List classifies the knife as Least Concern in its global assessment, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater, riverine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Cypriniformes
- family: Cyprinidae
- genus: Pelecus
- species: *Pelecus cultratus* (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms: *Clupea ziga*, *Cyprinus cultratus*, *Pelecus cultratus hurensis*, *Pelecus cultratus kurensis*, *Salmo microps*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the knife?

The knife is a bony fish in the family Cyprinidae, part of the order Cypriniformes.

### What is the scientific name of the knife?

The scientific name of the knife is Pelecus cultratus, and it belongs to the genus Pelecus.

### Is the knife endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List lists the knife as Least Concern in its global assessment, which is not a threatened category.

### Who named Pelecus cultratus and when?

The scientific name Pelecus cultratus carries the authority (Linnaeus, 1758).

### What other names does the knife have?

The knife is also called Ziege, Sichel, Razorfish and Sabrefish in English.

### Which subfamily does the knife belong to?

The knife belongs to the subfamily Leuciscinae within the family Cyprinidae.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Knife (Pelecus cultratus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/knife