Aulopyge huegelii Heckel, 1843
Dalmatian barbelgudgeon
Aulopyge huegelii
photo by Hartl, A.

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Barbinae
Max. size:  20 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Croatia (Cetina, Krka and Zrmanja drainages) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (Karstic streams in Glamocko, Livanjsko and Duvanjsko poljes, Lakes Busko and Blidinje).
Diagnosis:  The only species of the genus and can be diagnosed from other cyprinid species in Europe by having the following characters: prolonged urogenital papilla fused with anterior edge of anal in female; 2 pairs of barbels; last simple dorsal ray serrated; scales almost or completely absent (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Adults inhabit streams with swift water, still waters and lakes and enter subterranean waters during winter or dry seasons. Larvae and juveniles live on the bottom and are solitary. Omnivorous. Spawn in shallow areas of rivers and lakes. Attain up to about 20 cm SL. Threatened due to small range, water abstraction and pollution. The sharp decline of its population during 20th century had been caused by habitat loss and pollution (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 31 January 2006 (B1ab(iii,v)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.