black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Knipowitschia longicaudata Kessler, 1877
Synonyms: Pomatoshistus knipowitschi Beling, 1927; Knipowitschia georghievi
Pinchuk, 1978
Common names: Bulg: Dolgoopashoto popche; Russ: Knipovichiya; Turk: Kaya
baligi; Ukr: Bychok knipovichiya dovgokhvosta
Order PERCIFORMES
Family GOBIIDAE
Taxonomic description. One of two species of Knipowitschia in the Black Sea.
Body spindle-like but not flattened. First dorsal fin with 5-7, usually 6 spiny rays,
second fin with one spiny and 7-9 soft rays, anal fin with one spiny and 7-9 (10) soft
rays. Length of adult fishes does not exceed 5 cm., usually 3 cm.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level: EN
Subregion level: EN
Distribution. Brackish and fresher parts of the Black Sea, Danube delta, Dnieper
delta, Southern Bug delta, Azov Sea and Caspian Sea.
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. In coastal waters. Spawning on
sandy-shellstone bottom in the coastal zone. Its critical habitat is the bottom
biocoenosis. Main limiting factors are a decrease in river flow, degradation of the
bottom biocoenois, and rarefaction of spawning areas.
Biology. A small coastal pelagic migratory fish, feeding mainly on Copepoda and
Cladocera. Cannot expand into sea areas and rivers above 50-60 km inland from the
sea. Spawning from May to July. Eggs spawn in a nest under stones.
Conservation measures taken. None
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