Leucos panosi (Bogutskaya & Iliadou, 2006)
Acheloos roach
Leucos panosi
photo by Kommatas & Sanda

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Leuciscinae
Max. size:  29.1 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 355.7 g; max. reported age: 10 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Acheloos and Louros river systems in Greece; lakes Trichonis and Ambrakia. Introduced in Lake Joannina.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal soft rays: 11-11; Vertebrae: 40-41. Leucos panosi is distinguished by the following characters: moderate size, not exceeding 16.0-17.0 cm SL, usually 12.0-14.0 cm SL; lack of mid-lateral band; peritoneal membrane blackened by dense melanophores. It is quite similar to L. ylikiensis from which it differs mostly by having for 13-14 gill rakers (vs. usually 18-20 in L. ylikiensis) . It can be diagnosed from L. basak by having usually 42-43 lateral line (vs. 36-38 in L. basak); from L. aula by the absence of lateral band and the black color of the peritoneal membrane (vs. silvery in L. aula). It can be separated from all congeners by having usually 13-14 total gill rakes (vs. 8-10 in all others species, except L. ylikiensis with usually 18-20). The closest species, both on geographical distribution and molecular grounds is L. ylikiensis from western Greece (Ref. 96829).
Biology:  Adapted to still water (Ref. 96829). Found in lakes. Larvae and juveniles live away from shore. Juveniles feed on invertebrates and plant material while individuals larger than 12 cm SL prey mainly on snails and mussels. Spawns in shallow and sandy areas with vegetation. Eggs are very adhesive, 1.0-1.4 mm in diameter (Ref. 59043). The presence of spawners in February suggests that spawning season may commence at the end of January and extend possibly until March-April (Ref. 96829).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 (D2) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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