Validity of Pungitius hellenicus Stephanidis, 1971 (Teleostei, Gasterosteidae), a Stickleback Fish from Greece
1997; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists; Volume: 1997; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/1447559
ISSN1938-5110
AutoresYazdan Keivany, Joseph S. Nelson, P. S. Economidis,
Tópico(s)Fish Ecology and Management Studies
ResumoThe validity of Pungitius hellenicus, a stickleback fish from Greece, is confirmed in a morphological study of specimens from throughout the range of the genus. Three characters distinguish P hellenicus from both P pungitius and P platygaster: reduced ectocoracoid, fewer dorsal spines (2-6 vs usually 7-12), and all dorsal spines vertically arranged (vs some being inclined). The absence of a caudal peduncle keel further differentiates P. hellenicus from P pungitius, and the absence of the large lateral scutes and a complete pelvic girdle differentiates P hellenicus from P platygaster. N 1939, A. Stephanidis found a specimen of a new form of Pungitius in the Sperchios Valley in central Greece and recognized it as P. pungitius, the ninespine stickleback (Stephanidis, 1950). In spite of continuing efforts, he was unable to obtain more specimens until 1970, when he collected 40 specimens (20-50 mm long) from a spring flowing into the same valley. Based on morphological differences between these specimens and those of P. pungitius (e.g., loss of pelvic girdle, and lower number of dorsal
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