Valencia letourneuxi

Valencia letourneuxi is a small freshwater fish found in freshwater and brackish water in Albania and western Greece. Proven stocks are in Albanian Butrintsee and in the basin of the Alfios on the western Peloponnese. On Corfu and Lefkas they may become extinct.

Features

Valencia letourneuxi reaches a body length of 8 cm, has a stocky, slightly laterally flattened body with a flat head and back lot and is a maximum of 4 years old. Males are bluish to gray, pointing to the sides of the body one to 14 dark bands that are like the light spaces narrow or as wide, and iridescent dots. The caudal fin is transparent or bluish, with two to four vertical rows of dots and a dark trailing edge. Dorsal and anal fins do not extend to the caudal fin. Females are light brown, light yellow to whitish, without humeral spot and have transparent fins.

• Fins formula: Dorsal 10-11, anal 11, pectoral 12-14.
• Dandruff formula: MLR 28-30.

Way of life

Valencia letourneuxi lives in stagnant and slow-moving, heavily vegetated in most cases, waters and feeds on small invertebrates, especially insects and midge larvae. The fish usually live in fresh water, but have a high salt tolerance and survived in laboratory experiments, a salinity of 4.6%.

Endangering

The species is threatened by habitat destruction, water pollution and imported food competitors, particularly Gambusia holbrooki. The IUCN leads Valencia letourneuxi as " Critically Endangered " ( threatened with extinction ).