Cobitis vettonica Doadrio & Perdices, 1997

Family:  Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed); 9 cm SL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Spain. Alagón system (Tagus drainage).
Diagnosis:  All barbels very small, hardly visible, mandibular barbel 7-40 times in HL. Pectoral fin length 4.9-8.6 times in SL in males, 6.9-13.5 times in females. 7.5 branched dorsal rays. One lamina circularis.
Biology:  Found in deep, large stream with clear water, and sand to rock bottom (Ref. 59043). Oviparous, possibly with distinct pairing during breeding similar to congeners (Ref. 205). Spawns in April-June. Mainly distinguished by mtDNA characters and difficult to distinguish from C. paludica in the field (Ref. 59043). Population is threatened due to very restricted area of occurrence, agricultural water pollution, drought and introduced predators (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 31 January 2006 (B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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