Neogobius ratan Nordmann, 1840

Neogobius ratan image

Synonyms: Gobius ratan Nordmann, 1840; Gobius trautwetteri Kessler, 1884

Common names: Engl: Ratan goby; Bulg: Ratan; Russ: Bychok-rotan; Turk: Kaya baligi; Ukr: Bychok-ratan

Order: PERCIFORMES

Family: GOBIIDAE

Taxonomic descriptions: D VI, I 15-19; A I 12-15; P 18-21; Scales in lateral series 52-61; Vertebrae 32-34 (Gheorgiev, 1966). Head depth 0.91-0.95 than width. Upper lip thin and long. Its length 0.40-0.45 and width 0.07-0.09 head length. Angle of jaws below pupil. Pelvic disc 0.18-0.21 SL. Anterior membrane with large, angular lateral lobes. Suborbital papillae with 8 (rare 7) transverse rows. Colour: dark-brown. First dorsal-fin with upper yellow or orange edge. Size: to 23cm.

Neogobius ratan arealIUCN Status:
    World level:
    Black Sea Regional level:
    Subregion level: VU

Distribution: Black sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea. Pontian relict. In Bulgaria: along the whole coast.

Habitats type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors: inshore rocks, stones, gravel, 5-19m; near inshore zone; chemical contamination and fishing with a fishing-net in the breeding-season.

Biology: Reproduction: March-April. Eggs beneath between stones. Sexually mature at 2 years. Food: crustaceans and fishes (Miller, 1984).

Population trends: Declining.

Threats: Chemical contamination and fishing with a fishing-net in the breeding season.

Conservation measures taken: None.

Conservation measures proposed: Protection from fishing in the breeding season.

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: 1064.

Compiled by: Y.Sivkov, K.Prodanov