Dalmatian barbelgudgeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dalmatian barbelgudgeon |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Subfamily: | Barbinae |
| Genus: | Aulopyge Heckel, 1841 |
| Species: |
A. huegelii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aulopyge huegelii Heckel, 1843
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The Dalmatian barbelgudgeon (Aulopyge huegelii) is a unique type of ray-finned fish. It lives in freshwaters in parts of Europe. This fish belongs to the family called Cyprinidae, which includes carps and minnows. It's the only species in its own special group called Aulopyge.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Aulopyge comes from ancient Greek words. Aulós means "flute," and pygé means "behind" or "rump." So, its name roughly means "fluted tail-stem." This describes the shape of its body near the tail.
The second part of its name, huegelii, honors an Austrian naturalist and diplomat named Charles von Hügel. Scientists first mentioned this fish in 1841. However, it was fully described a few years later, in 1843.
What Does It Look Like?
The Dalmatian barbelgudgeon looks like a mix between two other fish: a barbel and a gudgeon. Even though it looks a bit like a gudgeon, it's actually more closely related to typical barbels. This is an example of convergent evolution, where different species develop similar features.
Where Does It Live?
This fish is found in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. It lives in areas with karst landscapes. Karst is a type of land made of limestone that often has caves and underground rivers.
You can find it in some creeks in the Livanjsko field. It also lives in the Cetina River, Krka River, and possibly the Zrmanja River. People have also successfully moved it to Lake Blidin and Busko Blato.
How Does It Live?
The Dalmatian barbelgudgeon is mostly active at night. This means it is a nocturnal animal. When it's time to lay eggs, which is called spawning, it moves into karst caves.
Spawning happens about a month after the water temperature reaches 20 °C (68 °F). The female fish lays her eggs in cracks in rocks and gravel. Her eggs are small, about 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters wide. She uses a special body part called an ovipositor to place them carefully.
Why Is It Endangered?
Sadly, the number of Dalmatian barbelgudgeons is going down. It used to be in the Zrmanja River but might not be there anymore. Even though there are still many in some places, its future is at risk.
Several things threaten this fish. Building dams on its home rivers changes its habitat. Too much water is taken for agriculture, which also reduces its living space. Water pollution and new introduced species can also harm it. Because of these threats, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as endangered.
