Knipowitschia caucasica

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	GOBIIDAE

Scientific Name:	Knipowitschia caucasica
Species Authority:	(Berg, 1916)
Synonym/s:	Bubyr caucasicus Sözer, 1941 Gobius caucasicus Kavraiskii in Radde, 1899 Gobius lencoranicus Kessler, 1877 Pomatoschistus caucasicus (Berg, 1916)
Taxonomic Notes:	Knipowitschia is sometimes considered a synonym of Pomatoschistus. This is based on the study of K. caucasica only and awaiting the study of other species, Kottelat and Freyhoff (2007) retain the genus as distinct. The variability (morphological and ecological) reported for K. caucasica suggests that this is a complex of several species.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M.

Reviewer/s:

Bogutskaya, N., & Smith, K. (IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit)

Justification:
A widespread species with no known major widespread threats.

History:

2007	–	Least Concern (IUCN 2011.2)
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Saline, fresh and estuarine waters along coasts of Black, Azov; Caspian and Aegean Seas west to Aliakmon drainage (Greece); identity of populations from along the eastern shore of Adriatic questionable. Has been recorded from freshwater lakes and lowland rivers more than 100 km from coast. Introduced in Aral Sea (but now extirpated).
Countries:	Native: Albania; Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; Georgia; Greece; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Kazakhstan; Moldova; Romania; Russian Federation; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Abundant.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Habitat: Fresh to hypersaline waters (salinity up to 5.5 ‰) of lakes, estuaries and lagoons. Most abundant in shallow, well vegetated habitats. Biology: Lives less than two years. Spawns after first winter, at 20-23 mm SL. Spawns in March-July, up to four portions of eggs. Eggs are attached to the roof of a cavity under stones, plant material or shells and are defended by male. Postlarvae are pelagic. Feeds on small invertebrates. In Trichonis Lake: on mud to gravel bottom, at depths less than 2 m; feeds mainly on copepods and larvae of the mussel Dreissena polymorpha.
Systems:	Freshwater; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Habitat:
Fresh to hypersaline waters (salinity up to 5.5 ‰) of lakes, estuaries and lagoons. Most abundant in shallow, well vegetated habitats.

Biology:
Lives less than two years. Spawns after first winter, at 20-23 mm SL. Spawns in March-July, up to four portions of eggs. Eggs are attached to the roof of a cavity under stones, plant material or shells and are defended by male. Postlarvae are pelagic. Feeds on small invertebrates. In Trichonis Lake: on mud to gravel bottom, at depths less than 2 m; feeds mainly on copepods and larvae of the mussel Dreissena polymorpha.

Systems:

Freshwater; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	No major threats known.

Major Threat(s):

No major threats known.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	No information.

Conservation Actions:

No information.

Citation:	Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. 2008. Knipowitschia caucasica. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 16 May 2012.
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