First Substantiated Record of the Black-Striped Pipefish, <I>Syngnathus Abaster</I> (Actinopterygii: Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae), in the Freshwaters of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Although the ichthyofauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been relatively well studied, the knowledge remains incomplete. This report confirms the occurrence of the black-striped pipefish Syngnathus abaster Risso, 1827 in the freshwaters o f Bosnia and Herzegovina. A sample specimen of the black-striped pipefish was obtained from the Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 2011. The morphometric measurements and meristic counts were taken. Although the black-striped pipefish has previously been reported to exist in this region, the data were not reliable or conclusive. Therefore the finding reported herewith can be considered the first substantiated record from Bosnia and Herzegovina and extends t he previously known distribution range for this species into freshwaters.