Cobitis illyrica Freyhof & Stelbrink, 2007

Family:  Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Max. size:  5.34 cm SL (male/unsexed); 6.48 cm SL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Bosnia and Hezegovina and Croatia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Can be diagnosed from other congeners in Europe by the combination of the following characters: one lamina circularis; caudal peduncle 1.9-2.3 times longer than deep; upper caudal-fin base with a single, indistinct black spot or without black spot; back with 1-3 postdorsal blotches, almost roundish with convex lateral margins; zone Z1 indistinct with few very small to small spots, narrower than zone Z2; on predorsal body, zone Z3 formed by few very small spots in males, narrower or as wide as Z2; on postdorsal body, zones 1-3 confluent in males; distance between tip of pectoral fin and origin of pelvic 73-82% of pelvic-fin length (Ref. 75104). Description: dorsal fin with 3 simple and 6½ branched rays; anal fin with 3 simple and 5½ branched rays; pectoral fin with 8 and 9 branched rays; and pelvic fin with 6 branched rays (Ref. 75104).
Biology:  Found in still waters of lakes on mud bottom (Ref. 59043). Congeners are oviparous, possibly with distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 (B1ab(ii,iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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