Caspiosoma caspium (Kessler, 1877)
Caspian naked goby
photo by Miller, P.J.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  4.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; depth range 2 - 8 m
Distribution:  Eurasia: Lower reaches, deltas and limans of rivers draining to the Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from other European gobies by the following characters: body slightly laterally compressed, anterior part is neither significantly wider nor flatter than caudal peduncle; head length 25-30% SL; no scales, granules, tubercles on body, but with 2-3 wide dark bars; no cephalic lateral line canals; D1 V-VII, with posterior extremity of its membranes reaching origin of D2; ; D2 with 11-13.5 branched rays; caudal peduncle about 3 times longer than deep; eye diameter about 20% HL; interorbital distance smaller than eye diameter; ventral part of second bar narrower than its middle part (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Occurs in lower reaches of rivers, deltas and estuaries; over muddy sand with shells (Ref. 4696). Eggs are pear-shaped (Ref. 4696). Feeds on benthic invertebrates, rotifers and algae (Ref.59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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