Economidichthys pygmaeus (Holly, 1929)
Western Greece goby
photo by Giakoumi, S.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobionellinae
Max. size:  5.1 cm TL (male/unsexed); 5.4 cm TL (female)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: in rivers and streams of western Greece, north of the Patraikos Gulf, including Lefkas Island; its likely occurrence to the north in Albania remains to be established.
Diagnosis:  Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 7-10; Vertebrae: 28-31. Body dark or with short transverse lateral blotches or bars, never more than half body depth; perianal organ present, at least half length of pelvic disc; pelvic anterior membrane deeply emarginate or absent in ventral midline; body contiguously scaled from axil to caudal fin base and abdomen naked.
Biology:  A short-lived species which inhabits both flowing and stagnant shallows with abundant vegetation and detrital substrate. Spawns in March and April (Ref. 26100). Feeds on invertebrates, mainly on amphipods and copepods. Females may spawn more than once during a season. Up to 600 eggs are spawns by several females in a single nest. Eggs (2.4 x 0.9 mm) are spawned in a cavity (often inside standing, broken reeds); these are cleaned and guarded by the males. The eggs hatch probably in one day, larvae living on the bottom; both male and female dying shortly after spawning (Ref.59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 31 January 2006 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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