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Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobionellinae
Etymology: Knipowitschia: Because of N.M.Knipowitsch, a zoologist and Russian ichthyologist from the Academy of Sciences. Expeditions in "Pomor" and "Pervosvanniy" ships to Azov and Black sea (1898-1908).
Eponymy: Nikolai Mikhailovich Knipovich (also given as Knipowitsch) (1862–1939) was a Russian oceanographer, marine zoologist and ichthyologist. [...] Dr Bartolomeo Panizza (1785–1867) was an Italian anatomist and physician who became (1809) a professor at the University of Pavia. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; demersal. Subtropical; 47°N - 41°N, 7°E - 16°E
Europe: Italian, Slovenian and Croatian coast of Adriatic and Ionian seas; recorded southward to Basilicate (Italy), but record from Evinos estuary (Greece) needs confirmation. Introduced to Lake Trasimeno (central Italy) and few localities of Tyrrhenian slope (Ref. 59043). Reported from Albania (Ref. 12290), Montenegro (Ref. 75974) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Ref. 95371).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 115022)
This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: no posterior oculoscapular canal; anterior extremity of anterior oculoscapular canal in front of middle of eye; body of live breeding males with dark spots or bars; back unscaled in front of ray 4-8 of second dorsal; total scales in midlateral series 32-39 (Ref. 59043).
A short-lived species (less than 2 years) which inhabits shallow, well vegetated habitats - streams, lakes, estuaries, lagoons, lower reaches of rivers, springs and brooks. Feeds on invertebrates. Spawns after first winter in April-August.; females may spawn every 10-15 days during the season. Males defend eggs in cavities under stones, plant material or shells; may overturn and clean suitable shells for spawning and these are then covered with substrate. Postlarvae are pelagic (Ref. 59043).
Eggs are found on undersurface of Cerastoderma valves (Ref. 4696). A multiple spawner, with 10-15 day cycle during the breeding season (Ref. 4696).
Bianco, P.G., 1995. Mediterranean endemic freshwater fishes of Italy. Biol. Conserv. 72:159-170. (Ref. 12291)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00977 (0.00444 - 0.02153), b=3.04 (2.85 - 3.23), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.37 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm=1).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).