Benthophiloides brauneri Beling & Iljin, 1927
Brauner's tadpole-goby
Benthophiloides brauneri
photo by Otel, V.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  7.2 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5.1 cm SL (female); max. reported age: 1 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; depth range - 15 m
Distribution:  Eurasia: Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Caspian Sea estuaries and rivers.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from other European gobies by the following characters: body of juveniles with small, non-overlapping scales with long lateral ctenii; naked in adults; no chin barbel; 2 broad dark bars around the body, one below first dorsal, the ventral part of second bar wider that its middle part; no cephalic lateral line canals; second dorsal with 11-13.5 branched rays; caudal peduncle 1.0-1.5 times longer than deep (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Occur in deeper, standing areas of fresh and brackish waters. Feed on chironomid larvae, small crustaceans, and gastropods (Ref. 4696). Eggs are large and pear-shaped (Ref. 4696). Very rarely observed and lives only one year. Spawns in July to August with possibly only a small batch of about 20-30 eggs (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 January 2023 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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