| Family: |
Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae |
| Max. size: |
32.6 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine |
| Distribution: |
Eurasia: Caspian Sea; in Volga upriver to Astrakhan until 1977, spreaded out to Lakes Ivankovskoje and Rybinskoje (2000); invaded Don drainage (Black Sea basin) through Volga-Don canal (first record in 1972). Abundant in Lake Tsimlyansk and lower Don. |
| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished from its congeners in the Caspian 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 1.5-1.6 times in eye diameter; interorbital distance 0.8-0.9 times eye diameter; first branched ray of second dorsal about as long as penultimate ray; posterior part of first dorsal without black spot. This species is different from N. kessleri in the area in having a distinctive karyotype, some osteological characters and cycloid scales on opercle and anterior part of the nape (vs. ctenoid) (Ref. 59043). |
| Biology: |
Inhabitant of inshore areas, estuaries, brackish and fresh water of lagoons and lakes, large rivers, harbours, on rock (stone or firm sand) bottom; mainly on well vegetated bottom (Ref.13696, 59043). Most females spawn for the first time at 1 year, males at 2 years, in April-May, rarely until July. Adhesive eggs are deposited on stones, shells and aquatic plants and the males guard the eggs after hatching. Feeds mostly on small fish, as well as a wide variety of invertebrates (Ref.59043). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 April 2022 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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