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Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobiinae
Etymology: Knipowitschia: Because of N.M.Knipowitsch, a zoologist and Russian ichthyologist from the Academy of Sciences. Expeditions in "Pomor" and "Pervosvanniy" ships to Azov and Black sea (1898-1908).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 46888); depth range 0 - 2 m (Ref. 12215). Temperate, preferred ?; 47°N - 38°N, 12°E - 61°E
Eurasia: along the coasts of Black, Azov, Caspian and Aegean seas west to Aliakmon drainage (Greece). Identity of the population along the eastern shore of Adriatic is questionable. Introduced in the Aral Sea and is now extirpated.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 2 - 2.3 cm
Max length : 5.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4696)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 7;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 7-8;
Anal
spines: 1;
Anal
soft rays: 7 - 9;
Vertebrae: 31 - 32. Anterior oculoscapular, preopercular, and sometimes posterior oculoscapular, canals present; body squamation complete on caudal peduncle and along at least lateral midline to axil. Males with 4-5 major vertical bars.
Inhabit fresh to hyper-saline waters (to 55 ppt) of lakes, estuaries and lagoons, in shallow areas with much weed. Feed on small crustaceans and chironomid larvae (Ref.12215); larvae of the mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Ref. 59043). Lives less than 2 years. Spawns after first winter. Eggs are attached to the roof of a cavity under stones, plant material or shells and are defended by male. Postlarvae are pelagic. (Ref.59043).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Spawns up to 4 portions of eggs (Ref. 59043).
Miller, P.J., 1986. Gobiidae. p. 1019-1085. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Volume 3. UNESCO, Paris. (Ref. 4696)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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