Romanichthys valsanicola
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| Romanichthys valsanicola Dumitrescu, Bănărescu & Stoica, 1957 |
Romanichthys valsanicola is the scientific name of the fish known as the sculpin-perch, asprete, or Romanian darter, the only member of the Romanichthys genus of the fish family Percidae.
It was scientifically discovered and described in 1957 by the Romanian scientists M. Dumitrescu, P. Bănărescu and N. Stoica. Local names include: asprete, poprete, sforete. Endemic to a very restricted area in southern Romania, it was found in the upper reach of the Argeş river and in two of its tributaries: Râul Doamnei and Vâlsan. Due to hydrotechnical constructions and deterioration of its habitat, it survived only in the tributary Vâlsan. This species is an endangered freshwater fish and is found on the red list of IUCN. Its area of distribution has drastically diminished and is now considered the European fish genus with the most restricted area. A Romanian NGO is working to preserve this species with the financial support of the Regional Environmental Center.
[edit] Biology
It is a small, grey-brownish fish, 10-12 cm long, covered with small, rough scales. The time of reproduction is in May and June. It lays eggs on rocks. It feeds on insect aquatic larvae, mainly Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera.
[edit] References
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). Romanichthys valsanicola. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 05 May 2006. Listed as Critically Endangered (CR A1ace+2ce, B1+2abcde v2.3)
- Romanichthys valsanicola (TSN 650169). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 19 March 2006.
- "Romanichthys valsanicola". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. November 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
