''Cobitis vardarensis'', the Vardar spined loach, is a species of

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fish or actinopterygians, is a class of bony fish that comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. They are so called because of their lightly built fins made of webbings of sk ...

in the true loach family

Cobitidae Cobitidae, also known as the true loaches, is a family of Old World freshwater fish. They occur throughout Eurasia and in Morocco, and inhabit riverine ecosystems. Today, most " loaches" are placed in other families (see below). The family includ ...

Environment

''Cobitis vardarensis'' is recorded to be found in a freshwater environment within a demersal depth range. This species lives in brackish waters. It is also native to a subtropical climate.

Size

''Cobitis vardarensis'' can reach the maximum length of about 11 centimeters or about 4.33 inches as an unsexed male.

Distribution

''Cobitis vardarensis'' is recorded to be found in Europe, the Aegean Sea basin, Pinios to Gallikos drainages, Greece, and North Macedonia, and named for the

Vardar The Vardar (; , , ) or Axios (, ) is the longest river in North Macedonia and a major river in Greece, where it reaches the Aegean Sea at Thessaloniki. It is long, out of which are in Greece, and drains an area of around . The maximum depth of ...

river.

Biology

Its status is insufficiently known. ''Cobitis vardarens'' is found in still waters of lakes, oxbows, and backwaters on mud to silt bottoms that are rarely in moving or flowing water. This species is also known to occur in marshlands, lowland rivers with little current, springs and associated wetlands. During its period of breeding, this species is recorded to have distinct pairing.

Population

The population of this species is known to be very abundant. This species is recorded to be of least concern for becoming an endangered species.

Threats

''Cobitis vardarensis'' is threatened by water abstraction and pollution.

Classification

The taxonomic classification of ''Cobitis vardarensis'' is as follows: *Kingdom : Animalia *Phylum : Chordata *Subphylum : Vertebrata *Superclass : Gnathostomata *Class : Actinopterygii *Order : Cypriniformes *Family : Cobitidae *Genus : ''Cobitis'' *Species : ''Cobitis vardarensis''

References

Cobitis Freshwater fish of Europe Fish described in 1928 Taxa named by Stanko Karaman Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Cobitidae-stub