Author: (Nordmann, 1840)
Neogobius ratan (Nordmann, 1840)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Neogobius ratan (Nordmann, 1840) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: nape scaled completely, scales cycloid. Head depth 0.9 to somewhat greater than width. Inter-orbit 0.4-0.6 eye diameter. Angle of jaws below pupil. Snout about 0.9-1.2 orbit. Upper lip slightly broadened posteriorly, width about half to two-thirds lateral preorbital area. Pelvic disc about 0.9 to equalling abdomen length, anterior membrane lateral lobes angular, not more than 0.2 width of rear edge. Caudal peduncle almost equalling own length. Dl VI (V-VII); D2 I + 16-18 (15-19); A I + 13-14 (12-15); P 19-20 (18-21). Scales in lateral series 54-59 (52-61). Vertebrae 32-34. Colour: dark brown with a few paler spots; first dorsal fin with upper yellow or orange edge, above more or less evident dark band, breeding males black. Size: to 23 cm.
Habitat: inshore rocks, stones and gravel. Food: chiefly crustaceans and fish. Reproduction: end of March to end of May (Varna, Black Sea); repeat spawning (twice). Eggs below and between stones. Sexually mature at 2 years.
Distribution: Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.
Subspecies (discussed by Pinchuk, 1976)
Neogobius ratan ratan: Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
Neogobius ratan goebeli (Kessler, 1874): central and southern Caspian Sea.