Phoxinus strandjae Drensky, 1926
Bulgarian minnow
Phoxinus strandjae
photo by Güçlü, S.S.

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Phoxininae
Max. size:  6.7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe and Asia: Veleka and Resowska drainages, draining from Strandzha to Black Sea in Bulgaria and Turkey.
Diagnosis:  Distinguished from its congeners in Europe by having anal fin origin below or behind base of last dorsal ray, anal fin length about ¾ of caudal peduncle length in adults, straight to slightly convex anal fin margin, distance between tip of first and last branched anal rays 0.8-1.2 times caudal peduncle depth (with fin stretched out), patches of breast scales connected anteriorly across the throat, lateral line reaching almost to end of caudal peduncle, a midlateral row of vertically elongated blotches whose depth is about 1/3-1/2 of body depth at same position in persevered individuals, caudal peduncle depth 2.5-2.8 times in its length and interorbital width 30-35% HL (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Inhabits small streams with clear, well oxygenated water, over gravel to stone bottom. Maximum size reaches up to at least 6.7 cm SL (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 (B1ab(ii,iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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