Romanogobio belingi (Slastenenko, 1934)
Northern whitefin gudgeon
Romanogobio belingi
photo by Spaans, P.

Family:  Gobionidae (Gudgeons)
Max. size:  11.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 5 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Northern Black Sea basin (Dniestr, South Bug and Dniepr drainages), southern Baltic basin (Odra, Vistula), southern North Sea basin (Elbe, Rhine). Reports from Lake Ilmen and Ladoga basins are questionable.
Diagnosis:  Diagnosed from its congeners in Baltic and Black Sea basins by the following characters: longitudinal epithelial crests on predorsal scales; scales on lateral line 39-42 + 2; scale rows around caudal peduncle 14-16, rarely 12; dorsal fin with 7½ branched rays; anal fin with 6½ branched rays; dorsal behind middle of body, predorsal length greater than postdorsal length; anus closer to pelvic origin than to anal origin; snout longer than or equal to postorbital distance (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Inhabits bottom of moderately flowing lowland rivers and prefers sand bottom. A nocturnal species feeding on insect larvae and other larger benthic invertebrates (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 March 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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