Babka gymnotrachelus (Kessler, 1857)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 658

Babka gymnotrachelus

Common name. Racer goby.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from species of Neogobius and Ponticola entering freshwater in Caspian and Black Sea basins by: ● midline of nape naked in front of preoperculum / ● diagonal bars on body irregular in position and shape / ○ pelvic-disc fraenum with small, rounded lobes whose length is less than 1 ⁄ 6 of fraenum width at base ( Fig. 62 ) / ○ 54–62+2–3 scales in midlateral series / ○ first branched ray of second dorsal about as long as penultimate ray / ○ first dorsal without black spot in posterior part. Size up to 160 mm SL.

Distribution. Black, Azov, and Caspian Sea basins. Since late 1990s, invasive in rivers of northern Black Sea and Baltic basins. No reports of invasive behaviour in West Asia.

Habitat. Mostly in fresh and brackish water with low salinity (<2 ‰). Estuaries, lagoons, and lakes, large rivers to small fast-flowing streams, on sandy or muddy bottoms. Mainly found in well-vegetated habitats. Common in backwaters and channels.

Biology. Lives up to 4–5 years. Spawns first time at 2 years. Spawns April–June, occasionally until mid-August. Female may spawn repeatedly during a season. Usually spawns for only one season. Adhesive eggs laid on rocks, shells, and aquatic vegetation. Male guard eggs until hatching. Feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates, especially molluscs.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Distribution in West Asia poorly understood. Babka macrophthalma from the Caspian basin is a synonym.

Further reading. Ahnelt 2001 (description, invasion); Pinchuk et al. 2003b (biology, description).

Figures

Figure 62. Pelvic-disc fraenum in Babka and Ponticola species. a, with small, rounded lobes; b, with angular lobes.