Scientific Name
Ponticola kessleri

Common Name
Bighead goby

Biology
This species is distinguished from related species in the Black Sea basin by the following characters: 75-95 % of distance between its origin and anus; ctenoid scales completely cover predorsal area and nape; pelvic disc fraenum with angular lobes, fraenum length 1/6-1/2 of its width at base; scales in midlateral series 68-72 + 3-4; snout length 1.5-2.0 times in eye diameter; first branched ray of second dorsal about as long as penultimate ray; posterior part of first dorsal without black spot (Ref. 59043).

Classification

Classified By

G?nther, 1861

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Gobies (Gobiidae)

Distribution

Region

Europe and Asia

Distribution

Europe and Asia: Danube delta (Braila, Lake Brates); Lakes Kagul, Yalpukh, Katlabukh, Kitai. Dniester from the liman to the region of Kamentes-Podol'sk. Dnieper to Dnepropetrovsk; Odessa and all coasts of the Caspian Sea; and Volga at Astrakhan. Absent from the Sea of Azov.

Range

50°N - 43°N, 26°E - 52°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

4 °C

Water Temperature To

20 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

3.47 s.e. 0.53 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

22.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5010 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (30 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)