Ukrainian stickleback
Southern nine-spined stickleback ( Pungitius platygaster )
The Southern nine -spined stickleback ( Pungitius platygaster ) is a fish of the family of the sticklebacks.
Distribution and habitat
This Stichlingsart inhabited predominantly plant-rich freshwater habitats, but can also be found in brackish water.
Settlement area are coastal waters and tributaries of the Caspian, Black and Azov Sea, also the surroundings of the Aral Sea. The distribution areas of the Southern Nine -spined stickleback and its relatives, the nine -spined stickleback, so do not overlap and do not have any spatial points of contact. The IUCN assesses the population of this species currently considered not at risk ( " least concern ").
Features
The Southern Nine -spined stickleback remains small, average size is five inches. Only in rare cases seven centimeters body length can be achieved.
Before the soft-rayed dorsal fin he carries eight to eleven retractable spikes.
The coloration varies greatly between populations, outside the spawning season is a brownish pattern on a lighter ground predominant.
Outwardly, the nine -spined stickleback very similar, these species can be distinguished mainly by the signs of their close relatives. Striking here is mainly the big belly plate that can reach nearly a quarter of the body length ( P. pungitius 14-16 percent). The Ventralstacheln are 15 to 16 percent of the body length significantly longer than in the other kind also have serrated edges, while P. pungitus (mostly) wearing smooth-edged Ventralstacheln. The close relationship with P. pungitius Heiner Kullack 1968 proved by crossing experiments. But breeding experiments with the hybrids have so far failed.
Number of fin rays:
- Dorsal 1 VIII -XI
- Dorsal 2 7-10
- Anal I/6-9
- Pectoral 10-11
- Ventral II/0-1
- Caudal 12-13
Behavior
Also in the behavior outweigh the similarities with nine -spined stickleback, there are only small differences in the execution of the Balzrituals. In addition, the South Nine -spined sticklebacks preferred spawning areas with particularly dense vegetation.
Subspecies
At times, the South Nine -spined stickleback was again divided into two subspecies platygaster Pungitius platygaster and Pungitius platygaster aralensis. This distinction has been dropped in recent studies.