Bighead goby (Ponticola kessleri)

Scientific name: Ponticola kessleri G?nther, 1861

Bighead goby (Ponticola kessleri)

The Bighead goby (Ponticola kessleri) is a freshwater fish of the family Gobiidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–20°C (39–68°F).

Bighead goby care at a glance

Temperature
4–20°C (39–68°F)

Biology

This species is distinguished from related species in the Black Sea basin by the following characters: 75-95 % of distance between its origin and anus; ctenoid scales completely cover predorsal area and nape; pelvic disc fraenum with angular lobes, fraenum length 1/6-1/2 of its width at base; scales in midlateral series 68-72 + 3-4; snout length 1.5-2.0 times in eye diameter; first branched ray of second dorsal about as long as penultimate ray; posterior part of first dorsal without black spot.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Ponticola kessleri
Family
Gobiidae (Gobies)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
22.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Europe and Asia: Danube delta (Braila, Lake Brates); Lakes Kagul, Yalpukh, Katlabukh, Kitai. Dniester from the liman to the region of Kamentes-Podol'sk. Dnieper to Dnepropetrovsk; Odessa and all coasts of the Caspian Sea; and Volga at Astrakhan. Absent from the Sea of Azov.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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