Cobitis arachthosensis Economidis & Nalbant, 1996

Family:  Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Max. size:  7.89 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Mediterranean Sea: Greece.
Diagnosis:  Pigmentation (Gambetta's longitudinal zone of pigmentation): zone Z3 absent in juveniles, narrower than zone 4 in adults, not densely pigmented and not fused with zone Z1 of caudal peduncle. Presence of 2 laminae circularis; 9-15 squarish blotches in zone 4 (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Found in burrows mostly in sandy to silty substrate in still to moderately flowing waters during the day. May sometimes inhabit gravel bottom and vegetation (Ref. 59043). Oviparous, possibly with distinct pairing during breeding similar to congeners (Ref. 205). Threatened due to small distribution range, habitat alterations and risk of hybridisation with C. hellenica (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 31 January 2006 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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