black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Pungitius platygaster (Kessler, 1859)
Synonyms: Gasterosteus platygaster Steindachner, 1899.
Common names: Bulg: Devetigla bodlivca; Engl: Nine or ten-spined stickleback;
Rom: Palamida de balta; Russ: Malaya yuzhnaya kolyushka.
Order GASTEROSTEIFORMES
Family GASTEROSTEIDAE
Taxonomic description. D VIII-XI7-10; A16-9; P 10-11; V11. Usually nine or 10
free spines in front of the dorsal fin (Stojanov et ah, 1963; Svetovidov, 1964). Body
covered with bony scats. Lateral keel on caudal peduncle absent. Pelvic fin spine
serrated. Size up to 7 cm.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: CE (Bulgarian coast)
Distribution. Rivers surrounding the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Caspian and Aral Seas
(Banister, 1986). In Bulgaria in Lakes Mandra and Beloslav.
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Fresh and brackish water; lakes;
threatened by changes in hydro-chemical regime.
Biology. Reproduction in March-May. The male makes a nest in vegetation. Food:
small invertebrates.
Population trends. Declining.
Threats. Industrial pollution.
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