Italian loach
| Italian loach | ||||||||||||
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Italian loach ( Sabanejewia larvata ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Sabaneevia larvata | ||||||||||||
| ( De Filippi , 1859) |
The Italian wolffish ( Sabanejewia larvata ), also known as the masked wolffish , is a benthic freshwater fish species from the family Cobitidae (wolffish) within the order of the Cypriniformes (carp-like).
Distribution, habitat and biology
The species is native to the catchment area of the Po and the Adige in northern Italy , which flow into the Adriatic Sea . It was introduced into the Ombrone , Tiber and Trasimeno river systems in central Italy.
The Italian wolffish prefers stretches of river with low flow velocity, muddy soil and low vegetation density. The species reaches sexual maturity after two years. The spawning season is between May and July. Worms and insect larvae that live on the bottom of the water serve as food.
The species is classified as "not endangered" by the IUCN .
features
Sabanejewia larvata reaches a maximum length of 9 cm, but most specimens are only 5 cm long. Their drawing is characteristic of the species. On both sides of the body there is a central row of 15 to 27 small, round and dark points, which have often grown together to form an irregular band. On the caudal fin base there are two round spots, the diameter of which is exactly as large as the distance between them.
swell
- ↑ Maurice Kottelat, Jörg Freyhof: Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes. Ed .: Kottelat. Cornol, 2007, ISBN 978-2-8399-0298-4 .
- ↑ Crivelli, AJ 2006. Sabanejewia larvata . The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2006: e.T19794A9016045. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T19794A9016045.en. Downloaded on November 30, 2018.
- ↑ Sabanejewia larvata on Fishbase.org (English)
