Barbus tauricus Kessler 1877

The only species of the genus in Crimea Peninsula which can be distinguished from congeners in Black Sea basin by the possession of the following characters: tip of dorsal fin slightly pointed; posterior margin of dorsal fin slightly concave; last simple dorsal ray weak, serrated along its middle, on 50-70% of its length; lower lip with a median swollen pad; fine dark spots or large blotches in individuals larger than 8 cm SL; scales with small epithelial crests; lateral line with 51-63 scales; and pelvic fin origin about below dorsal fin origin (Ref. 59043).

Undertake upstream movement to the upper reaches or near rapids to spawn on gravel or rock bottom. Females lay in 1-3 portions non-sticky eggs. Eggs lie among or under pebbles until hatching (Ref. 59043).

Occurs from mountain streams with strong current to brackish estuaries, preferring river stretches at 100-600 m above sea level. Spawns on gravel or rock bottom. Feeds mainly on zoobenthos. Threatened due pollution and water abstraction. Water abstraction is expected to increase in all streams of Crimea (Ref. 59043).

The Crimean barbel (Barbus tauricus) is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Barbus.