Knipowitschia longicaudata Kessler, 1877

Knipowitschia longicaudata image

Synonyms: Pomatoshistus knipowitschi Beling, 1927; Knipowitschia georghievi Pinchuk, 1978

Common names: Bulg: Dolgoopashoto popche; Russ: Knipovichiya; Turk: Kaya baligi; Ukr: Bychok knipovichiya dovgokhvosta

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: GOBIIDAE

Taxonomic descriptions: One of two species of the Knipowitschia genus in the Black Sea. Body spindle-like-looking, but not flattened. First dorsal fin 5-7, usually 6 spiny rays, second fin 1 spiny and 7-9 soft rays, anal fin 1 spiny and 7-9 (10) soft rays. Length of adult fishes does not exceed 5 cm., usually 3 cm.

Knipowitschia longicaudata arealIUCN Status:
    World level:
    Black Sea Regional level: EN
    Subregion level: EN

Distribution: Brackish and freshened parts of the Black Sea, Danube delta, Dnieper delta, Southern Bug delta, Azov Sea and Caspian Sea.

Habitats type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors: Coastal waters. Spawning occurs on sandi-shellstone ground in the coastal zone. Its critical habitat is the bottom biocoenosis. The main limiting factors are the decrease in the river flow, the degradation of the bottom biocoenois, and spawning areas.

Biology: A little coastal pelagic migration herdarious fish feeding mainly on Copepoda and Cladocera. Cannot expand into sea areas and rivers above 50-60 km from the sea. Spawning from May to July. Eggs spawn in the nest under plain stones or shalls.

Population trends:

Conservations measures taken: None

Conservations measures proposed: Enter in the Black Sea Red Data Book, provide preservation of natural river regime in habitat areas.

References:

  1. Gheorgiev, J. 1966. Composition d’espece et caracteristique des Gobiides (Pisces) en Bulgarie. - Proc. Res. Inst. Fish., Oceanogr. Varna, VII: 159-228.
  2. Miller, P. 1986. Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, v. 3: 1047.
  3. Svetovidov A. N. Ryby Chernogo morya (Fishes of the Black Sea). Moskow-Leningrad: Nauka Publ., pp. 551, (in Russian). Fauna Ukraini (Fauna of Ukraine)V.8.,publ 5. Kiev. Naukova Dumka Publ., pp. 320.

Compiled by: K.Prodanov, Y.Sivkov, S.Khutornoy