Proterorhinus marmoratus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Proterorhinus marmoratus |
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The Tubenose Goby (scientific name: Proterorhinus marmoratus) is a type of goby fish. It gets its name from its special tube-shaped nostrils. This fish originally lives in the slightly salty, or brackish water, parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. You can find it near the coasts of countries like Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, and Russia. It also lives in the Marmora Sea in Turkey. The Tubenose Goby can grow up to about 11.5 centimeters (4.5 inches) long.
About the Tubenose Goby
Scientists used to think that the Tubenose Goby was the only fish in its group, called a genus (Proterorhinus). They believed it lived naturally in places like the Caspian Sea and had also spread to new places in Europe and North America.
How Scientists Study Fish
In the 2000s, scientists looked closer at the Tubenose Goby. They studied its DNA and its body shapes. They found out that what they thought was one species was actually several very similar ones. These are called 'cryptic species' because they look so much alike, making them hard to tell apart without special tests.
Different Types of Tubenose Goby
Now, the name P. marmoratus is only used for the Tubenose Gobies living in the salty or slightly salty waters of the Black Sea area. The ones living in fresh water in that area are now called the Western Tubenose Goby (P. semilunaris). There is also a special type found only in Crimea called Proterorhinus tataricus. This shows how scientists keep learning more about the amazing variety of life on Earth!
