Cobitis (Cobitis narentana)

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Actinopterygii
Order	Cypriniformes
Family	Cobitidae
Genus	Cobitis (1)
Size	Maximum male length: 6.3 cm (2) Maximum female length: 10 cm (2)

Cobitis narentana is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Endemic to the Neretva River basin of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cobitis narentana is a peculiar-looking freshwater fish with a long body and a small head (2). The eyes are close to the snout, and the mouth is arched, with three pairs of long barbels. The lips are finely furrowed. The male Cobitis narentana is smaller than the female, but tends to have longer pectoral fins (3).

The body of Cobitis narentana is patterned by a row of distinct squarish blotches, and there is as a dark, comma-shaped spot on the upper lobe of the tail fin (2) (4). There is also a small oval spot on the lower lobe of the tail (2).

Cobitis narentana is only found in the Neretva River Basin in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina (1) (2).

A freshwater species, Cobitis narentana occurs in slow-flowing rivers, lakes and marshes, where it prefers sandy or silty substrate and dense vegetation (1) (2).

Cobitis narentana is a rare species with a restricted distribution, and very little is known about its biology and behaviour. However, it is thought to spawn between April and August, when up to 2,500 eggs may be released by the female (2) (4). It is a short-lived species, with most males dying before three years of age, although females usually live to five. Cobitis narentana reaches maturity when it is around 5.8 centimetres in length (5).

A benthic species, Cobitis narentana buries itself almost completely in the substrate, with only the head protruding. It feeds on various invertebrates (2). Like other members of the Cyprinidae family, Cobitis narentana lacks teeth in the jaws, instead possessing a pair of enlarged bones in the throat which have structures known as ‘pharyngeal teeth’, used to process food (6).

Restricted to just a single river system, Cobitis narentana is at risk from pollution and habitat loss (1). Water extraction and sand and gravel mining are degrading rivers, and run-off from agriculture is polluting the water (2). The introduction of alien species, including pike-perch (Sander spp.) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), also threatens Cobitis narentana (2), while the proposed construction of the Neretva dam will decrease water flow in its habitat, increasing the frequency of drought. The latter threat could be exacerbated by global climate change (1).

Cobitis narentana has not been the target of any known conservation measures. However, it has been recommended that the River Neretva is designated a protected area as part of the Natura 2000 network (7).

Find out more about Cobitis narentana:

Zanella, D., Mrakovčić, M., Mustafić, P., Ćaleta, M. and Marčić, Z. (2009) Threatened fishes of the world: Cobitis narentana Karaman, 1928 (Cobitidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes, 86: 523-524.

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Barbels: fleshy projections near the mouth of some aquatic vertebrates.
Benthic: the lowermost region of a marine habitat, the bottom.
Endemic: a species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
Invertebrates: animals with no backbone, such as insects, worms, spiders and corals.
Pectoral fins: in fish, the pair of fins that are found one on each side of the body just behind the gills. They are generally used for balancing and braking.
Spawning: the production or depositing of large quantities of eggs in water.

IUCN Red List (May, 2011)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Zanella, D., Mrakovčić, M., Mustafić, P., Ćaleta, M. and Marčić, Z. (2009) Threatened fishes of the world: Cobitis narentana Karaman, 1928 (Cobitidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes, 86: 523-524.
Mustafić, P. et al. (2008) A new loach species of the genus Cobitis in Croatia. Folia Zoologica, 57: 4-9.
FishBase - Cobitis narentana (May, 2011)
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=65311&genusname=Cobitis&speciesname=narentana
Zanella, D. et al. (2003) Growth of Cobitis narentana Karaman, 1928 in the Neretva River, Croatia. Folia Biologica, 51: 155-158.
Campbell, A. and Dawes, J. (2004) Encyclopedia of Underwater Life. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Mrakovčić, M., Duplić, A., Mustafić, P. and Marčić, Z. (2008) Conservation status of the genus Cobitis and related genera in Croatia. Folia Zoologica, 57: 35-41.