Pungitius platygaster (Kessler, 1859)

Freyhof, Jörg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, GmbH, Berlin / Boston: De Gruyter : 825

Pungitius platygaster

Common name. Ukrainian stickleback.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from Gasterosteus aculeatus in West Asia by: ● 7–11 isolated spines in front of dorsal. Size up to 60 mm SL.

Distribution . In West Asia restricted to lower reaches of rivers in Azerbaijan and lower Sefid and associated wetlands in Iran. Native in lower rivers and wetlands draining to northern shores of Black, Caspian, and Aral basins. In Danube drainage as far upstream as Belgrade. Isolated populations in Axios and Aliakmon drainages ( Greece). Also in upper Tobol system (Ob drainage), Lake Issyk-Kul basin ( Kyrgyzstan), and Sarysu drainage (central Kazakhstan).

Habitat. Marshes and slow-flowing streams with dense vegetation, occasionally enter brackish water.

Biology. Spawns first time at 1 year in spring when temperature reaches 15°C. Territorial during spawning. Males build a nest of filamentous algae and submerged vegetation with a separate entrance and exit. Females lay about 90 eggs. Male guard nest until young swim away a few weeks later. Feeds on benthic invertebrates.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Keivany & Nelson 2000 (systematics); Paepke 2002b (biology).

Figures

Pungitius platygaster

Distribution