Siberian bullhead

Siberian bullhead
	Siberian bullhead in Lake Hańcza at a depth of about 21 meters
Systematics
Order :	Perch-like (Perciformes)
Subordination :	Cottoidei
Partial order :	Bull relatives (Cottales)
Family :	Bullheads (Cottidae)
Genre :	Cottus
Type :	Siberian bullhead
Scientific name
	Cottus poecilopus
	Heckel , 1837

The alpine bullhead , Ostgroppe , colored fins bullhead or colored fins Koppe ( Cottus poecilopus ) is a freshwater fish of the family of sculpins (Cottidae).

description

With a length of seven to nine centimeters, it is usually smaller than the bullhead . The lateral line is incomplete and extends to about the middle of the second, non-prickly part of the dorsal fin. Unlike the bullhead, the inner ray of the ventral fins is only half as long as the outer one.

The Siberian bullhead has a brownish-gray color, the belly is white. There are usually five dark saddle bands on the back. The dorsal fin and anal fin are drawn on a yellow-green background with oblique bands, the caudal fin and pectoral fins with transverse bands. The pelvic fins have three to twelve blackish transverse bands on a light background.

Way of life

It occurs stationary (no migratory fish ) in streams and lakes. The Siberian bullhead usually hides under stones on solid ground and also covers considerable depths. The spawning season is from February to April. The breeding behavior is similar to that of the bullhead. The fish lives on bottom animals, especially flea crabs .

distribution

The Siberian bullhead inhabits northern Europe and northern Asia from southeast Norway to the Amur region . In different areas, for example in Sweden or in the Beskids and Carpathians , it occurs together with the bullhead. Island-like occurrences, which identify the species as an Ice Age relic, are in the area of the Oder and Vistula . In the southern Baltic Sea region, it currently only lives in Lake Hańcza in north-eastern Poland and in the Feldberg lake landscape (Luzinseen, north-eastern Germany). All other lake populations, for example in the Großer Plöner See , have died out as a result of the eutrophication of their living waters. On May 18, 2006, the first 73 Ostgroppen in Schmalen Luzin were released as part of a project for artificial repopulation . It is very questionable whether the species still occurs in the Luzin latitude and in the Carwitzer See .