Balkan Spined Loach
📖 Overview
Found in moderate to fast-flowing stretches of shallow rivers, on sandy banks and shores, sometimes on rock bottom with submerged vegetation . Oviparous, with distinct pairing during breeding . Population not threatened as most are stable and occurs only as a few restricted populations .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Lamina ocularis absent. Body depth is 10-13% of SL. Pigmentation (Gambetta's longitudinal zone of pigmentation): zone Z2 a continuous narrow line, reaching at least below dorsal base; zone Z3 racing below dorsal base.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Balkan Spined Loach is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
During courtship, 'the male follows the female and, after both enter dense vegetation (e.g. filamentous algae), the male forms a complete ring around the female's body behind the dorsal as the female releases the eggs' .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate; 48°N - 44°N, 12°E - 22°E
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Balkan Loach · Balkan Spined Loach |
| 🌍BUL | Голям щипок |
| 🌍CES | sekavec protáhlý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Balkansk pigsmerling |
| 🇩🇪German | Balkan-Steinbeißer |
| 🇭🇷Croatian | Veliki vijun |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Kózka wielka |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Verdemã-dos-Balcans |
| 🌍RON | Fâsă mare |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Стройная щиповка |
| 🌍SLV | Velika nežica |
| 🌍SRP | вијуница |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Balkan Spined Loach.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 4 records indexed .
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