Chondrostoma prespense Karaman, 1924

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Leuciscinae
Max. size:  27 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 5 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Lakes Prespa basin (Albania, Greece and Macedonia).
Diagnosis:  Diagnosed from congeners in Balkan Peninsula by the following characters: slightly arched mouth, lower lip with thin cornified sheath; scales on lateral line 56-66; ½ 8-9/1/5-6 scales in transverse row between dorsal-fin and pelvic-fin origins; dorsal fin with 8½ branched rays; anal fin with 8-9½; and 23-27 gill rakers (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Inhabits lakes and enters tributaries during spawning season (Ref. 59043). Occurs in water bodies at high altitude (ref. 26100). Feeds on macrophytes, invertebrates (Ref. 59043) and algae (Ref. 26100). Undertakes migration exclusively at night (Ref. 59043). Reproduction takes place in April and May. Threatened due to water abstraction and the introduction of other species (Ref. 26100).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 31 January 2006 (D2) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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