Vardar spined loach
📖 Overview
Found in still waters of lakes, oxbows and backwaters on mud to silt bottom, rarely in flowing water . Also occur in marshlands, lowland rivers with little current, springs and associated wetlands . A short-lived species. Oviparous, with distinct pairing during breeding . Can be diagnosed from Cobitis elongatoides and Cobitis pontica only by chromosome characters. They cannot be distinguished in the field, except by origin . Is threatened due to water abstraction and pollution . Current assessment of threat reduced to least concern .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Pigmentation (Gambetta's longitudinal zone of pigmentation): zone Z4 with 13-24 well separated spots; zone Z3 wider than zone Z2, comprising several rows of small dots; dark spot at caudal base clearly visible. One lamina circularis.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Vardar 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; brackish; benthopelagic. Subtropical
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Vardar Spined Loach |
| 🌍ELL | Μακεδονική βελονίτσα |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobitis taenia vardarensis | Karaman | 1928 | Synonym |
| Cobitis vardarensis vardarensis | Karaman | 1928 | Synonym |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Vardar spined loach.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
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