Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Can be distinguished from other species of Cottus in the Adriatic basin and Danube drainage by the combination of the following characters: body coloration uniform reddish brown, or pattern slightly darker than background; fins hyaline or dusky and rays slightly tessellated; first dorsal fin dark brown to black with bold whitish margin in live nuptial males; no prickling on body; depth of caudal peduncle 22-26% HL; body depth at origin of second dorsal fin 16-17% SL; predorsal length 33-38% SL; length between snout and origin of second dorsal fin 52-59% SL; usually 11 1/2 anal-fin rays; pelvic-fin base attached to body by a small membrane; interorbital distance 1.5-2.0 times in eye diameter; last anal-fin ray attached to body at base only; membrane of first dorsal fin usually reaching to origin of second dorsal; length of caudal peduncle 45-62% HL; dorsal head length 21-25% SL (Ref. 55856).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Occurs in large, very cold spring. Attains first sexual maturity at 1 year. Spawns in March (Ref . 59043).