Italian Minnow

Etymology The name Phoxinus has a Latin origin.   Description This is a native species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is distinguished from other species of Phoxinus in Europe by the following characteristics: having lateral line usually reaching beyond anal fin base, caudal peduncle depth 2.6-3.1 times in its length, patches of breast scales separated by unscaled area or (rarely) connected anteriorly by 1-2 rows of scales, anal fin origin in front of base of last dorsal ray. Caudal fin has 19 rays. Maximum length of 140 mm.   Distribution It can be found from the Northern parts of Italy, extending to South-East to the whole Dalmatian region and ending with the River Drim drainage area from which lakes Skadar, Ohrid and Prespa’s are terminal ones. It lives in a wide range of cold and well oxygenated habitats from small, fast-flowing streams to large rivers and from small upland lakes to large oligotrophic lakes and is usually associated with salmonid fishes.   Biology It spawns in April-June at temperatures above 10⁰C. Some individuals spawn evenduring autumn. They spawn in shoals,being a fractional spawner, and femalesdeposit the sticky eggs deep into clean gravel. Spawning takes place over cleangravel areas in flowing water or on wavewashedshores of lakes.It overwintersincoarsesubstrateor in deep pools with lowcurrent.It migratesupstreamforspawninginshallowgravelareas. During thespawningit is gettingmore colored (greenstripesbellowthe back and red belly). Itfeedson algae, plant debris (in rivers),molluscs,crustaceans and insects.   Fishing significance No significance.   Threats Potential threat to the species from water abstraction, drought, pollution and introduced species.   Conservation actions No actions needed. Stable population.