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Cobitis almadae Doadrio, Sousa-Santos & Robalo, 2023 Almada spined loach |
| Family: | Cobitidae (Spined loaches) | |||
| Max. size: | 6.82 cm SL (female) | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater | |||
| Distribution: | Europe: Portugal. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-5. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: scales elongated with reduced focus and well-developed lamina circularis; large and low peduncle depth (CPL/BLD > 3.4; APL/BLD > 1.8); a long knife-shaped lamina circularis (Canestrini scale) at the base of the second pectoral fin ray and with a narrow handle in males; lateral ethmoid (suborbital spine) well developed with long narrow mediocaudal, laterocaudal and mediorostral processes; narrow skull with elongated and narrow frontoparietal fontanel; numerous spots on the body in females; well-developed pigmentation in the four Gambetta’s zones; 12-21 (Median = 17.5) small blotches, with third Gambetta’s zone wide and sprinkled with numerous black spots in females, Gambetta’s second and fourth zone spots fused to form two black stripes in males; poorly developed ventral pigmentation in adult individuals, frequently interrupted in the middle of the body; lamina circularis at the base of the second pectoral ray in males; and presence of a large upper caudal spot (Ref. 137754). | |||
| Biology: | ||||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||