Alpine bullhead

Siberian bullhead in Hańcza Lake in about 21 meters depth

The Siberian bullhead, Ostgroppe, ferrous or non-ferrous fins fins Bullhead Koppe ( Cottus poecilopus ) is a freshwater fish of the family of sculpins ( Cottidae ).

Description

With a length of seven to nine centimeters is usually smaller than the bullhead. The lateral line is incomplete and extends to approximately under the middle of the second, not spiny part of the dorsal fin. The inner ray of ventral fins is different from Bullhead only half as long as the outer.

The Siberian bullhead has a brownish -gray color, the belly is white. On the back of five dark saddle bandages are usually recognizable. The dorsal fin and the anal fin are drawn on yellow green background with diagonal, the caudal fin and pectoral fins with transverse bandages. The pelvic fins carry three to twelve blackish cross bands on a light background.

Way of life

She is stationary (no migratory fish ) are present in streams and lakes. The Siberian bullhead keeps mostly hidden under stones on solid ground and is also considerable depths. Spawning season is from February to April. The breeding behavior resembles that of the bullhead. The fish lives of soil animals, especially amphipods.

Dissemination

The Siberian bullhead inhabited northern Europe and northern Asia from Southeast Norway to the Amur region. In various areas, for example in Sweden or in the Beskids and Carpathian Mountains, it occurs together with the bullhead. Island -like deposits, which identify the species as Ice Age relic, are in the range of the Oder and Vistula. In the southern Baltic Sea area she lives at present only in the lake Hańcza in northeastern Poland and the Feldberg Lakes ( Luzinseen, East Germany ). All other Seepopulationen, for example in the Great Plön Lake, due to the eutrophication of their home waters are extinct. On 18 May 2006, the first 73 Ostgroppen in Narrow Luzin were released as part of a project for artificial recolonization. Whether the kind still found in popular Luzin and Carwitzer lake, is very questionable.