Squalius keadicus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Squalius keadicus |
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Leuciscus (Telestes) souffia ssp. keadicus Stephanidis, 1971 |
Squalius keadicus is a type of freshwater fish. It belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which includes carps and minnows. You can only find this fish in Greece. In Greek, it is known as the menida.
This fish lives only in the Evrotas river system and the Vassilopotamos stream. These places are in the southern part of Peloponnese, Greece.
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About the Fish
Scientists have studied Squalius keadicus a lot. They found that it is a very old and special type of fish. It is one of the most ancient fish species in Greece, and maybe even in all of Europe.
What it Looks Like
The Squalius keadicus has a body that is a bit flat on the sides. It has a dark brownish-blue color. This fish can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long. However, most fish found recently are around 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long.
Boys and girls of this fish look a little different. Male fish are usually smaller than females. They also have slightly bigger fins on their chest and belly.
Where it Lives
Squalius keadicus lives in rivers and streams. Some scientists think it likes places where the water moves slowly. But others say it is a very active fish. They believe it prefers open parts of the river with fast-moving, cool water. It likes to live on stony river bottoms.
This fish eats mostly insects that live in the water. It catches its food throughout the water. Because it likes fast-moving water, it only lives in certain parts of rivers. These areas are quite small.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Squalius keadicus fish become old enough to have babies when they are two years old. Male fish might be ready even earlier, at one year old.
They usually lay their eggs in the middle of spring. The eggs are sticky and yellowish. They are about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. When the babies hatch, they are very small, about 5.1 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. They do not have much color yet.
Protecting the Fish
The Squalius keadicus is in danger. Its home is shrinking and getting damaged. The biggest problem is summer droughts. During summer, there is not enough rain. People also take too much water from the rivers. This makes the fish's home dry up.
In recent years, many parts of the river and its smaller streams dry up completely in summer. Also, pollution from farms makes the water dirty. This is especially bad when the water levels are low. It can cause many fish to die suddenly.
When the number of fish goes down, their genes become less varied. This means they might not be able to handle changes in their environment as well. In the past, there were many Squalius keadicus fish. But now, their numbers in the Evrotas river have dropped a lot. The fish population in the Vassilopotamos stream might even be completely gone.
The Greek government protects this fish. It is protected by a special law from 1981.
