Cobitis stephanidisi Economidis, 1992

Family:  Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Max. size:  9 cm SL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Greece (Ref. 26100): Extirpated in Karstic springs, Kefalovriso (Velestino) in 1998, rediscovered in Chasambali (Pinios drainage, Thessaly) in 2001.
Diagnosis:  Pigmentation (Gambetta's longitudinal zone of pigmentation): zone Z4 forming a continuous black or grey stripe; flank pigmented below zone Z4. One lamina circularis.
Biology:  A short-lived species. Adults inhabit lowland water courses with little current and springs with associated wetlands (Ref. 26100), with silt bottom and underwater vegetation (Ref. 59043). Oviparous, possibly with distinct pairing during breeding similar to congeners (Ref. 205). Is threatened due to water abstraction and habitat destruction (Ref. 26100).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 31 January 2006 (B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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