Cobitis pontica Vasil'eva & Vasil'ev, 2006
Pontic spined loach

Family:  Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Max. size:  10.05 cm SL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: From Veleka (Bulgaria) to Istranca (Turkish Thrace) drainages (Ref. 57856); Marmara Sea basin and lower Sakarya drainage (Anatolia) (Ref. 59043).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-8; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-6. Upper part of the base of the caudal fin with one elongated dark spot; broad axe-shaped lamina Canestrini in males; scales more or les rounded with relatively small central part devoid of cross furrows; Gambetta's zones of pigmentation well developed, the fourth zone consisting of relative large 13-17, usually 16 spots with depth equals or exceeds (the largest spots before dorsal fin) horizontal eye diameter; suborbital spine in females not reaching posterior edge of pupil, but in smaller males reaches as far as the posterior edge of the pupil or some more; the outer branch of this spine usually (85.7%) not reaching the center of the eye; head some shortened and deep with more or less straight profile; karyotype consists of 50 (10 meta-, 30 submeta-, 8 subtelo- and 2 areocentric) chromosomes, the number of chromosomes arms (NF) - 90 (Ref. 57856).
Biology:  Found in small brooks to large rivers, in flowing or still waters on sand, silt or mud bottoms (Ref. 59043). Oviparous, possibly with distinct pairing during breeding similar to congeners (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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