Caspian bighead goby

📖 Overview

Inhabitant of inshore areas, estuaries, brackish and fresh water of lagoons and lakes, large rivers, harbours, on rock (stone or firm sand) bottom; mainly on well vegetated bottom. Most females spawn for the first time at 1 year, males at 2 years, in April-May, rarely until July. Adhesive eggs are deposited on stones, shells and aquatic plants and the males guard the eggs after hatching. Feeds mostly on small fish, as well as a wide variety of invertebrates.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished from its congeners in the Caspian Sea basin by the following characters: 75-95 % of distance between its origin and anus; ctenoid scales completely cover predorsal area and nape; pelvic disc fraenum with angular lobes, fraenum length 1/6-1/2 of its width at base; scales in midlateral series 68-72 + 3-4; snout length 1.5-1.6 times in eye diameter; interorbital distance 0.8-0.9 times eye diameter; first branched ray of second dorsal about as long as penultimate ray; posterior part of first dorsal without black spot. This species is different from N. kessleri in the area in having a distinctive karyotype, some osteological characters and cycloid scales on opercle and anterior part of the nape (vs. ctenoid) .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Caspian bighead goby is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Caspian bighead goby is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Caspian bighead goby is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal. Temperate

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute