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Benthophilus stellatus (Sauvage, 1874) Stellate tadpole-goby |
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photo by
Otel, V. |
| Family: | Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae | |||
| Max. size: | 13.5 cm TL (male/unsexed); 11 cm TL (female) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; freshwater; brackish | |||
| Distribution: | Europe: Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian rivers and estuaries. | |||
| Diagnosis: | This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: a tubercle between eyes; sparse granules on flanks, backward only to below D2 base, rare between upper lateral and dorsal rows of tubercles; head width 94-104 % HL; tubercles in dorsal row 27-30, ventral row 22-25, upper lateral row 10-16 (slightly smaller posteriorly), lower lateral row with few tiny tubercles or absent; chin barbel slightly compressed, thick, about equal in length with eye diameter; origin of D2 in front of anal origin; transverse rows of neuromasts on flank 19-23; no spot in front of D2; sides with dark blotches and irregular dots; a blotch around base of first dorsal usually reaching origin of D2 (Ref. 59043); head and body covered with spinulose bony platelets; rounded caudal fins and ventral suckers (Ref. 92840). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits shallow coastal lagoons and lowland rivers in freshwater and brackish water with salinity below 12 ppt. Adults occur in muddy reaches of rivers; in brackish water, more than 3 m deep (Ref. 4696, 59043). This species spawns after first winter, May-June and females die shortly after spawning while with males, some weeks after. Feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, insect larvae and small fishes (Ref. 4696, 59043). Eggs are pear-shaped (Ref. 4696). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 January 2023 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||