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Pungitius polyakovi Shedko, Shedko & Pietsch, 2005 |
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photo by
Shedko, S.V. |
| Family: | Gasterosteidae (Sticklebacks and tubesnouts) | |||
| Max. size: | 5.05 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | pelagic-neritic; marine | |||
| Distribution: | Northwest Pacific: southeastern part of Sakhalin Island, Russia. | |||
| Diagnosis: | This species is distinguished from its congeners in having the following set of characters: membranes of dorsal-fin spines darkly pigmented (in specimens greater than 17 mm SL); spawning males with lower part of head and abdomen darkly pigmented; membranes of dorsal-fin spines black; membranes of pelvic-fin spine blue and white; pelvic-fin spine dark with lightly pigmented tip; anal-fin spine dark at base, blue and white distally; numerous small black dots on membranes between rays of dorsal and anal fins, resulting in an overall dark-grey coloration; no anteroventral branch of ectocoracoid (ectocoracoids not extending beneath junction of cleithra); no ascending branch on pelvic skeleton; modal number of dorsal-fin spines 10; presence of caudal peduncle keel (4-6 scutes), no lateral scutes on trunk absent; pelvic-fin spine with smooth lateral margins; posterior margin of caudal fin rounded (Ref. 86731). | |||
| Biology: | Males build, guard and aerate the nest where the eggs are deposited (Ref. 205). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 29 January 2020 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||