Uranoscopus scaber (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms: Cottus anostomus Pallas, 1811.

Common names: Engl: Stargazer; Bulg: Zvezdobroets; Russ: Zvezdochet; Turk: Kurbaga baligi; Ukr: Zirkoglyad.

Order (Scientific): PERCIFORMES.

Family (Scientific): URANOSCOPIDAE.

Taxonomic descriptions: D III-IV 13-15; A I 12-14; P 14-16. Scales in lateral series 76-90; Vertebrae 25-26 (Svetovidov, 1964; Stojanov, and all., 1963). Body massive in front, somewhat compressed posteriorly. Head large and flat dorsally. Eyes on top of head. Interorbit space narrow. Colour: back and sides greyish-brown, belly yellowish-white. Size: to 35cm.

Uranoscopus scaber arealIUCN Status:
    World level:
    Black Sea Regional level:
    Subregion level: CE (Bulgarian Coast)

Distribution: Atlantic coast of Europe and Africa, Mediterranean and Black Sea (Hureau, 1986). In Bulgaria: vary rare along entire coast.

Habitats type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors: Benthic species, on sandy or muddy bottoms; on sandy bottom; chemical pollution.

Biology: Reproduction: July-August. Post-larval and juvenile stages are pelagic. Food: mainly fishes.

Population trends: Declining.

Threats: Chemical pollution.

Conservation measures taken: None.

Conservation measures proposed: Improving the purity of the water.

References:

  1. Hureau, J. 1986. Fishes of the North - eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean., v. 2: 955-956.
  2. Svetovidov, A. 1964. The fishes of the Black Sea. Publ. House “Science”, M.-L., 550 pp.
  3. Stojanov, S. and all., 1963. The fishes in the Black Sea. Publishing house Varna, 246 pp.

Compiled by: K.Prodanov, Y.Sivkov.