Morphometric and meristic characteristics of the goldside loach Sabanejewia balcanica (Cobitidae) in Central Croatia.

We studied sixteen morphometric and eight meristic characteristics of forty-five goldside loaches from two rivers in central Croatia, the Bijela and the Petrinjcica, belonging to the Sava River basin. We found significant differences (P<0.01) in all the morphometric characteristics of the populations from these two rivers. While the mean total length (TL) of the goldside loache population from Petrinjcica (mean TL = 60.4 mm, min-max = 52.8 - 70.2 mm) is comparable with TL in other populations described in Europe, individuals from the Bijela seem to be significantly larger (mean TL = 91.8 mm; min-max = 76.4 mm- 102.4 mm) and are among the longest specimens in Europe. Although we can not be sure if this is a result of phenotype variability or some specific taxonomic quality, the position of the Bijela on the old isolated massif of Mt Papuk may have led to the specific morphometric characteristics of this goldside loach population.

New data about distribution of Sabanejewia balcanica (Karaman, 1922) (Cobitidae) in Croatia.

Data are presented on the distribution of the goldside loach, Sabanejewia balcanica, in upper and lower parts often small rivers and brooks of the Danube drainage in central Croatia. The species was registered in relatively small numbers in most of the streams inspected. Results suggest that anthropogenic factors caused the disappearance ofthe goldside loach from most streams in the lower parts of their course. Therefore, S. balcanica should be listed as an endangered species in the Croatian fauna.