black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas, 1770)
Synonyms: Gobius gracilis Cabrera, 1817; Gobius elongatus Canestrini, 1861;
Gobius cobitiformes Kessler, 1874; Gobius minutus gracilis de Buen, 1923;
Pomatoschistus minutus Iljin, 1927.
Common names: Bulg: Dalache; Engl: Sand goby.
Taxonomic description. D VI, I 8-12; AI 8-12; P 17-21. Scales in lateral series 58-
69. Vertebrae 31-34 (Gheorgiev, 1966). Head depth 1.01-1.04 of head width. Eye
diameter 0.25-0.29 of head length. Upper lip uniformly wide. Pelvic disc 0.20-0.26
SL. Anterior membrane without lateral lobes. Suborbital papillae with 9-11
transverse rows. Colour grey with numerous fine brownish spots. Males with 4-6
vertical dark bars. Size up to 7 cm.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: CE (Bulgarian coast)
Distribution. East Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Seas (Miller, 1986). In
Bulgaria found along the entire coast.
Order PERCIFORMES
Family GOBIDOAE
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Inshore gravel and sand, down to
about 20 m; sensitive to chemical substances.
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