The Marathon minnow (Pelasgus marathonicus) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the familyCyprinidae, the carps and minnows. It is endemic to Greece.
It is a small fish with a total length of 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in). The lateral line has around 40 scales which run from the angle of the bladder slit to the base of the tail, only the first 8-12 of these scales are perforated, forming the true lateral line. The dorsal fin has3 simple and 7-8 branching rays. The tail is forked. The colour of the body is greyish-brown, pale on the ventral side with a narrow, longitudinal black band on the flanks.[3]
Distributionedit
The Marathon minnow is endemic to Greece where it can be found in the drainages of the Spercheios and Boeotian Kifissos Rivers and on the Marathon Plain.[1] It had been recorded from the Athenian Kifissos but not since 1971 but it was rediscovered there in 2013.[4]
Habitat and ecologyedit
The Marathon minnow is found in Springs, swamps, canals; normally among vegetation or under banks or in tree roots.[1]
It lives up to two years.[1] Spawns in May–September and is a fractional spawner like other minnows in the genus Pelasgus.[5] It feeds on a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates, algae and detritus.[1]
Conservationedit
The population in the Marathon area has been seriously affected by drainage for agriculture while other threats include Water abstraction, drought, agricultural pollution and introduced species such as the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)[1] and the mosquito-fish (Gambusia holbrooki), The habitat of this species should continue to be monitored, the spread of Gambusia halted using biological control and populations of Marathon minnow should be reinforcedusing captively bred fish. A major publicity campaign for schools and environmental agencies to raise public awareness has been suggested. The Marathon minnow is considered as Endangered in Greece but the IUCN class it as Near Threatened.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefFreyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008). "Pelasgus marathonicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T135721A4192889. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T135721A4192889.en.
^Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Pelasgus marathonicus" in FishBase. November 2017 version.
^ abΠαναγιώτης Σ. Οικονομίδης; Βασιλική Χρυσοπολίτου (17 July 2010). "Ντάσκα Μαραθώνα ή Αττικόψαρο (Pelasgus marathonicus)" (in Greek). Κυνηγετικές σελίδες. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
^"Re-discovery of the Marathon Minnow in Athens' Kifissos River!". Athens Nature Journal. Stam Zogaris. August 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
^"Pelasgus marathonicus". Jeorg Freyhof. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
January 01, 1970
marathon, minnow, pelasgus, marathonicus, species, freshwater, finned, fish, from, family, cyprinidae, carps, minnows, endemic, greece, conservation, status, near, threatened, iucn, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, chor. The Marathon minnow Pelasgus marathonicus is a species of freshwater ray finned fish from the family Cyprinidae the carps and minnows It is endemic to Greece Marathon minnow Conservation status Near Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Cypriniformes Superfamily Cyprinoidea Family Cyprinidae Genus Pelasgus Species P marathonicus Binomial name Pelasgus marathonicusVinciguerra 1921 Synonyms 2 Leucaspius marathonicus Vinciguerra 1921 Pseudophoxinus marathonicus Vinciguerra 1921 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Habitat and ecology 4 Conservation 5 ReferencesDescription editIt is a small fish with a total length of 3 7 cm 1 2 2 8 in The lateral line has around 40 scales which run from the angle of the bladder slit to the base of the tail only the first 8 12 of these scales are perforated forming the true lateral line The dorsal fin has3 simple and 7 8 branching rays The tail is forked The colour of the body is greyish brown pale on the ventral side with a narrow longitudinal black band on the flanks 3 Distribution editThe Marathon minnow is endemic to Greece where it can be found in the drainages of the Spercheios and Boeotian Kifissos Rivers and on the Marathon Plain 1 It had been recorded from the Athenian Kifissos but not since 1971 but it was rediscovered there in 2013 4 Habitat and ecology editThe Marathon minnow is found in Springs swamps canals normally among vegetation or under banks or in tree roots 1 It lives up to two years 1 Spawns in May September and is a fractional spawner like other minnows in the genus Pelasgus 5 It feeds on a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates algae and detritus 1 Conservation editThe population in the Marathon area has been seriously affected by drainage for agriculture while other threats include Water abstraction drought agricultural pollution and introduced species such as the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss 1 and the mosquito fish Gambusia holbrooki The habitat of this species should continue to be monitored the spread of Gambusia halted using biological control and populations of Marathon minnow should be reinforcedusing captively bred fish A major publicity campaign for schools and environmental agencies to raise public awareness has been suggested The Marathon minnow is considered as Endangered in Greece but the IUCN class it as Near Threatened 3 References edit a b c d e f Freyhof J amp Kottelat M 2008 Pelasgus marathonicus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008 e T135721A4192889 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2008 RLTS T135721A4192889 en Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2017 Pelasgus marathonicus in FishBase November 2017 version a b Panagiwths S Oikonomidhs Basilikh Xrysopolitoy 17 July 2010 Ntaska Mara8wna h Attikopsaro Pelasgus marathonicus in Greek Kynhgetikes selides Retrieved 28 November 2017 Re discovery of the Marathon Minnow in Athens Kifissos River Athens Nature Journal Stam Zogaris August 2013 Retrieved 28 November 2017 Pelasgus marathonicus Jeorg Freyhof Retrieved 28 November 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marathon minnow amp oldid 1221998392, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
