Zebra fish
| Zebra fish | ||||||||||||
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A male zebra fish ( Aphanius fasciatus ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Aphanius fasciatus | ||||||||||||
| ( Valenciennes , 1821) |
The zebra fish ( Aphanius fasciatus ) is a Mediterranean fish that is common in the Mediterranean area . Although it is affected by the destruction of its habitats and the introduction of competing species, the IUCN classifies it as "not threatened".
description
The zebra fish has an elongated body that is slightly flattened on the sides. Its head, which is flattened on the top, has large eyes and an upper mouth, which is set with small, three-pointed teeth. There are 25 to 30 large scales in a longitudinal row on the body, and the head is also scaled. The pectoral fins start below the middle of the body, the pelvic fins are ventral. The dorsal fin with its ten to thirteen rays starts quite far back, just before the anal fin, which consists of nine to twelve rays. The caudal fin is not forked and ends rounded. All fins of the zebra fish show only soft rays . As with many dentists , the color of the sexes is very different. Males are olive-green-bluish on the back and on the flanks and light with a silvery sheen on the belly, in addition they show ten to fifteen wide, dark transverse bands on the flanks. Their fins are yellowish. The female is much more subtle in color, it is light gray-green with only indistinct, narrow cross bars. Their fins are light gray and transparent. The body length is also different, males reach a length of about 5.5 centimeters, females are up to 6 centimeters long. This fish has no lateral line organ .
Distribution, habitat and biology
The distribution area of the zebra fish stretches along the Mediterranean coast from the Ligurian Sea to the Middle East . It also occurs in North Africa from Gibraltar to the bitter lakes in Egypt. It lives in salt , fresh and brackish water . As far as the habitat is concerned, it is quite undemanding, you can find it in lagoons and estuaries , but also in small stagnant bodies of water and very salty water. Most of the time it stays on the surface of the water. From April to September the females lay their eggs on the ground, preferably on aquatic plants and algae. The young hatch after ten to fifteen days and reach sexual maturity at the end of their first year of life . Its diet consists of both animal and vegetable food. It eats small crustaceans and plankton as well as insects and their larvae, but also parts of plants, algae and detritus .
protection
The zebra fish is listed by the European Union in Appendix II of the Habitats Directive and is therefore considered a type of community interest, for whose conservation special protected areas must be designated by the member states.
swell
- Gunter Steinbach: Freshwater fish in European waters . Mosaik Verlag GmbH, Munich 1984
- Zebra fish on Fishbase.org (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Zebra Bear on Fishbase.org (English)
- ↑ a b c d e f Gunter Steinbach: Freshwater fish in European waters . Mosaik Verlag, Munich 1984
Web links
- Zebra fish on Fishbase.org (English)
- Aphanius fasciatus on WoRMS