Cobitis vardarensis Karaman 1928

Pigmentation (Gambetta's longitudinal zone of pigmentation): zone Z4 with 13-24 well separated spots; zone Z3 wider than zone Z2, comprising several rows of small dots; dark spot at caudal base clearly visible. One lamina circularis.

During courtship, 'the male follows the female and, after both enter dense vegetation (e.g. filamentous algae), the male forms a complete ring around the female's body behind the dorsal as the female releases the eggs' (Ref. 59043).

Found in still waters of lakes, oxbows and backwaters on mud to silt bottom, rarely in flowing water (Ref. 59043). Also occur in marshlands, lowland rivers with little current, springs and associated wetlands (Ref. 26100). A short-lived species. Oviparous, with distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Can be diagnosed from Cobitis elongatoides and Cobitis pontica only by chromosome characters. They cannot be distinguished in the field, except by origin (Ref. 59043). Is threatened due to water abstraction and pollution (Ref. 26100). Current assessment of threat reduced to least concern (Ref. 59043).

fisheries: of no interest