Cobitis taenia

Spined loach
92/43/EEC Directive ann. II 

The spined loach is an omnivorous specie, it lives in slower stream waters with dense vegetation and sandy-muddy bottom.
It populate major rivers, small streams and lakes. The species does not exceed 12 cm, the growth is slow, higher in females.
The feeding occurs predominantly during the twilight hours and the night and it is composed of micro-organisms and vegetation fragments.
The spined loach is sensitive to changes in habitat, especially the change in the structure of the bottom of rivers, it is adversely affected by chemical pollution of water (such as that resulting from the use of pesticides). An additional risk is represented by the 'genetic pollution "of the populations, caused by the introduction of alien Cobiti for sport fishing.