engleski

Endemic gobies of the Hutovo Blato wetland (Neretva river basin, Bosnia and Herzegovina)and their conservation status

Two different species of freshwater endemic gobies is now recorded from the Hutovo Blato wetland (Neretva river basin, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Based on the diagnostic features, the first one shares several characters with Knipowitschia croatica, while the other one is new species assigned to the Knipowitschia genus. The new species differs from congeners by the distance between dorsal fins and the existence, position, arrangement and number of body scales. To establish the taxonomical status and preserve this gobies species detailed morphological, molecular as well as behavioural and ecological studies are required. The relevance of findings for zoogeography, taksonomy as well as for conservation issues is discussed in relation to local eco-hydrological conditions, the highly restricted distribution and the possible critically endangered status of the species.

endemic gobies; Knipowitschia croatica; Knipowitschia un.sp.nov.; Hutovo blato wetland

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