Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus, 1758)

Artüz, M. Levent & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, Response to the comments regarding “ The marine teleost fishes of the Sea of Marmara; an updated and annotated checklist ” by Artüz & Fricke (2019), Zootaxa 4802 (2), pp. 395-400 : 397

6, 7. The situation both of Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus, 1758) and Pungitius platygaster (Kessler, 1859)

are also explained with the following paragraph in the article of Artüz & Fricke 2019 P: 551

Whereas both are occurs in brackish waters.

“Although some fish species predominantly live in fresh or brackish water, the unique hydrographic structure of Sea of Marmara, with a surface salinity of 18‰ near the Black Sea connection, allows the presence of these species. This includes the species Gasterosteus aculeatus, Pungitius platygaster and Pungitius pungitius . Gasterosteus aculeatus (as Gasterosteus trachurus) and Pungitius pungitius (as Gasterosteus pungilius) were reported by Deveciyan (1915), and P. platygaster by Slastenenko (1955 -1956).”

Also in Ladiges and Vogt (1965) is stated clearly on p: 176 – 177/ fish nr. 187 P. pungitius as “ VORKOMMEN: Fast circumpolar, aber nicht so weit südwärts wie Gasterosteus. An den europäischen Küsten nur im nördlichen Eismeer, in Nord- und Ostsee und im Schwarzen Meer. An den atlantischen Küsten wahrscheinlich, im Mittelmeergebiet sicher fehlend. “

- OCCURRENCE: Almost circumpolar, but not as far south as Gasterosteus. On the European coasts only in the north- ern polar sea, in the North and Baltic Sea and in the Black Sea. Probably on the Atlantic coasts, certainly missing in the Mediterranean area.

Without knowing the original characteristics of the water masses of the Sea of Marmara, the objection of the commenter based on his own article could not be understood.