black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Mesogobius batrachocephalus Pallas, 1811
Synonyms: Gobius batrachocephalus, Pallas, 1811; Gobius (Mesogobius)
batracocephalus Bleecker, 1874
Common names: Engl: Flat-head goby; Bulg: Stronghil; Rom: Harms; Russ: Bychok
knut; Turk: Kurbaga kayasi baligi; Ukr: Bychok zhaba
Order PERCD70RMES
Family GOBIIDAE
Taxonomic description. Two dorsal fins, the second a little longer than the anal fin;
no scales on the upper side of the head. The gills cover the throat and bases of the
pectoral fins. Head flattened and rather pointed, with prominent lower jaw. Body of
yellowish ground colour; back yellow-brown with five broad cross bands; pelvic fins
fused by a membrane which extends across the front of these fins as a skin fold,
forming a sucking disc; posterior border of the sucking disc well before the vent.
None of the dorsal rays sharp and spiny; no lateral line on the sides of the body. Size:
maximum 35 cm; average about 19 cm (male) and 21 cm (female).
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: LR
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. A brackish water
fish, inhabiting sandy bottoms, in inshore waters down to a depth of 40 m. Common
in coastal waters of the Black and Azov Seas and in the estuaries of the Dnieper, Bug,
Dniestr and Don rivers; also in the Bosphorus. Threats: increasing pollution, hypoxia;
destruction of breeding grounds (sand covering stony egg substrates).
Biology. Feeds mainly on small fish (sand smelt, anchovies, stripped mullet, scad,
gobiids); spends the winter in deeper waters. Migrates towards the shore in April-
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