black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Neogobius ratan Nordmann, 1840
Synonyms: Gobius ratan Nordmann, 1840; Gobius trautwetteri Kessler, 1884
Common names: Engl: Ratan goby; Bulg: Ratan; Russ: Bychok-rotan; Turk: Kaya
baligi; Ukr: Bychok-ratan
Order PERCIFORMES
Family GOBHDAE
Taxonomic description. D VI, 115-19; A112-15; P 18-21. Scales in lateral series
52-61. Vertebrae 32-34 (Gheorgiev, 1966). Head depth 0.91-0.95 of width. Upper
lip thin and long. Its length 0.40-0.45 and width 0.07-0.09 of head length. Angle of
jaws below pupil. Pelvic disc 0.18-0.21 SL. Anterior membrane with large, angular
lateral lobes. Suborbital papillae with 8 (rarely 7) transverse rows. Colour dark-
brown. First dorsal-fin with upper yellow or orange edge. Size up to 23cm.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: VU
Distribution. Black sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea. A Pontian relict. In Bulgaria
along the whole coast.
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. On inshore rocks, stones, gravel,
at 5-19 m of depth; near inshore zone. Threats: chemical contamination and fishing
with nets in the breeding-season.
Biology. Reproduction in March-April. Eggs beneath stones. Sexually mature at two
years of age. Food: crustaceans and fishes (Miller, 1984).
283