Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Gasterosteiformes (Sticklebacks and seamoths) >
Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks and tubesnouts)
Etymology: Pungitius: Latin, pungitius = prickling (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical, preferred ?; 39°N - 38°N, 21°E - 23°E
Europe: lower Sperchios drainage in Greece. In Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043); max. reported age: 2 years (Ref. 59043)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 2 - 6. Distinguished from congeners in Europe by possessing the following unique characters: dorsal fin with 2-6 spines; and pelvic girdle absent or very reduced. Differs further from other members of the genus by having the following combination of characters: body pale olive with blackish mottling; and absence of keel on side of caudal peduncle (Ref. 59043).
Adults inhabit spring-fed streams and ponds, with temperature rarely rising above 20° C and dense vegetation. Feed on small aquatic invertebrates and fish larvae. Spawn in May-June. Males build a nest and guard the eggs until hatching. Threatened due to habitat alteration and water abstraction. Attain a maximum size up to about 4.5 cm SL (Ref. 59043).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Males construct a nest made of vegetal material, where females lay the eggs. They guard the eggs until hatching (Ref. 59043).
Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol and Freyhof, Berlin. 646 pp. (Ref. 59043)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
Tools
Can't connect to MySQL database fbquizv2. Errorcode: Too many connections