black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Gobius cobitis (Pallas, 1811)
Synonyms: Gobius capito Valenciennes, 1837; Gobius capitonéllus Kessler, 1874.
Common names: Engl: Giant goby; Russ: Bychok-kruglyash; Turk: Kaya baligi.
Order PERCIFORMES
Family GOBUDAE
Taxonomic description. D VI, I 11-14; A110-13; P 18-21. Scales in lateral series:
60-66. Vertebrae: 27-29 (Gheorgiev, 1966). Head depth 0.81-0.90 of width. Eye
diameter 0.17-0.23 of head length. Upper lip uniformly wide, comparatively short.
Nape scaled, cheek naked. Pectoral free rays well developed Pelvic disc 0.18-0.21
SL. Anterior membrane with lateral lobes. Suborbital papillae with seven transverse
rows. Colour grey-brown to yellow. Size up to 27cm.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: EN
Distribution. Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea (Miller, 1986). In
Bulgaria: along the whole Black Sea coast.
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Inshore, on stone and weedy
ground, two to 10m deep; inshore zone.
Biology. Reproduction from May to early July. Eggs below stones. Sexually mature
after 2-3 years. Food: green algae, crustaceans, polychaetes, insects.
Population trends. Declining.
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