Ellinopygósteos
The Greek nine -spined stickleback ( Pungitius hellenicus ) is an endemic in Greece Stichlingsart. It is distinguished from other sticklebacks by remarkable reduction phenomena.
Distribution and habitat
This Stichlingsart is found only in a very limited area in the catchment area of the Sperchios, where now only populations exist in three places: in the karst waters near Agia Paraskevi and associated drainage channels, in spring-fed streams and irrigation and drainage channels in the area of Moschochori and in some spring-fed streams in the vicinity of the village Kombotades. During the Greek Nine -spined stickleback in Moschohori still relatively frequently can be found, the other two occurrences are much smaller. The positions at the locus typicus, the place where the type specimens, in a brook Kombotades were wiped out, when it was destroyed.
The typical habitat is clear streams and small rivers with sandy and stony ground and relatively low water temperatures not exceeding 20 ° C in summer. The type also requires the protection of dense vegetation.
Features
Although the common name suggests otherwise, bears the Greek Nine -spined stickleback generally only two to six dorsal spines. The pelvic fins are completely absent, as is customary in other sticklebacks Ventralstacheln. The otherwise for members of the genus Pungitius typical, coherent belly plate is greatly reduced. On the sides of any signs missing.
The maximum 50 -millimeter body is slender, the head is in relation to relatively large. The pale olive-green coloration is interrupted at the sides by dark stripes or spots.
Number of fin rays:
- Dorsal 1 I-VI
- Dorsal 2 8-10
- Anal I/8-10
- Pectoral 9-11
- Caudal 11-12
Way of life
The Greek Nine -spined stickleback lives retired and spends most of the day hidden in dense aquatic vegetation. Open open water areas he visits rarely. Its diet includes invertebrates, their eggs and larval stages and fry.
After the spawning period in May and June, operates the males, as with all stickleback species, intensive parental care until the offspring reached a size of about five to six millimeters. With a length of ten to eleven millimeters, the young resemble the adult plants in color and shape. With a maximum life expectancy of 18 months experienced a nine-spined stickleback Greek only one breeding season.
Threat and protection
The species is adapted by their small size and high reproductive rate to small and unstable water systems. It is, however, restricted to a very small area of distribution and there continued contamination by water withdrawals, pollution and habitat destruction, as the filling of ponds for the recovery of land, exposed. As a result, the population is highly fragmented and prone to random disturbances such as genetic defects or droughts. The IUCN therefore leads the Greek Nine -spined stickleback as " critically endangered ". The Greek government presented him with the Law 67/1981 under protection.