Oxynoemacheilus pindus
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| Oxynoemacheilus pindus | ||||||||||||
| ( Economidis , 2005) |
The pindus loach ( Oxynoemacheilus pindus ) is a benthic freshwater fish species of the genus Oxynoemacheilus from the family of the brook loach (Nemacheilidae). The species was described in 2005 and occurs in Albania and Greece . The species is named after the Pindos Mountains, in which the Vjosa has its origin.
features
Like all species of the genus Oxynoemacheilus , the animals have an elongated, slender body with a gray-yellow basic color and irregular spots along the body flanks. The mouth is below and surrounded by 6 barbels . The caudal fin is forked. The tail stalk is 1.4-1.6 times as long as it is wide. The eye diameter is 16–18% of the length of the head and is therefore relatively smaller than in other European species. In contrast to the species Oxynoemacheilus bureschi , which also occurs in Greece , the males of the Pindus loach do not have an under-eye lobe . The lateral line only extends to the approach of the anal fin and is therefore shorter in relation to the body length than in other species occurring in Europe, where it extends to the approach of the caudal fin. The animals reach a standard length of up to 5.4 cm.
Distribution and ecology
The Pindus loach is native to the catchment areas of the Vjosa , Shkumbin and Ore , which drain into the Adriatic Sea . It is therefore limited to southern Albania and western Greece. The animals prefer rapids with stony ground, but can also be found in somewhat calmer sections of flowing water.
Danger
The Pindus loach is classified by the IUCN as "endangered" ( VU = Vulnerable ) because it has only a few isolated occurrences. The species has declined in recent years. Responsible for this are, among other things, the deterioration in habitat quality due to pollution and eutrophication, but also water abstraction and agriculture. The Pindus loach is also endangered by the construction of hydropower plants . There are currently more than 100 construction projects in the range of the sensitive loach species, whereby around half of its habitat is threatened.
swell
- ↑ Maurice Kottelat, Jörg Freyhof: Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes . Kottelat, Cornol, Berlin 2007.
- ↑ Oxynoemacheilus pindus summary page. Accessed March 3, 2019 .
- ^ The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed March 3, 2019 .
- ↑ Fish Database | Save the Blue Heart of Europe. Accessed March 3, 2019 .