Spined Loach Research Articles

Dynamics of Diversity of Spined Loaches of Genus Cobitis (Cobitidae) of Trans-Caucasus in the Anthropogenic Period According to the Data of Museum Collections. III. Morpho-genetic Variability, Taxonomic Status and Diagnostic Characters of Spined Loaches of the Black Sea Coast North of the Meskheti Ridge of the Lesser Caucasus

Dynamics of Diversity of Spined Loaches of Genus Cobitis (Cobitidae) of Trans-Caucasus in the Anthropogenic Period According to the Data of Museum Collections. III. Morpho-genetic Variability, Taxonomic Status and Diagnostic Characters of Spined Loaches of the Black Sea Coast North of the Meskheti Ridge of the Lesser Caucasus

Trophic position and niche overlap of an Asian weatherfish (Misgurnus bipartitus), western tubenose goby (Proterorhinus semilunaris) and native benthic fish species

Co-occurring and morphologically similar species have adapted to differential niches to minimize competition. An invasive alien species can occupy an ‘empty niche’ in introduced ranges. Alternatively, the invader may occupy an overlapping niche and compete with native species to a certain degree. In a Western European lowland brook with high nutrient loads, we studied a benthic community of five fish species, including two alien species: an Asian weatherfish (Misgurnus bipartitus) and the western tubenose goby (Proterorhinus semilunaris). The native species concerned stone loach (Barbatula barbatula), spined loach (Cobitis taenia), and gudgeon (Gobio gobio). Because of the unknown effects of the invaders on native benthic fish species, the trophic position, isotopic niche overlap, and potential food competition among these species were identified using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes. The trophic levels of the five fish species indicated that they are secondary consumers. The body size of native fish species correlated significantly negatively with their δ15N (‰) signature, in contrast with the invaders indicating that the latter are generalists. Significant isotopic niche overlap was observed among all benthic species. The degree of niche overlap of M. bipartitus was the highest with G. gobio (91.8%). Proterorhinus semilunaris showed the highest degree of niche overlap with B. barbatula (91.2%). It was notable that the observed niche overlap between the native B. barbatula and C. taenia was high (99.2%). Overlap between M. bipartitus and P. semilunaris was low (8.9%), indicating little resource competition between these alien species. Native species showed wider isotopic niches than the invaders. Bayesian mixing models revealed that native and alien species slightly differ in their main diet. The results suggest that the invaders are plastic in their resource use, leading to niche differentiation and promoting the co-existence of benthic fish species.

Spatial Segregation of Diploid and Polyploids Spined Loaches (Сobitis elongatoides–taenia–tanaitica) in the River Systems of Western and Central Ukraine

Spatial Segregation of Diploid and Polyploids Spined Loaches (Сobitis elongatoides–taenia–tanaitica) in the River Systems of Western and Central Ukraine

Comparative Morphology and Morphometry of the Olfactory Organ of the Six Korean Spined Loaches, Genus Iksookimia, as a New Taxonomic Key

Comparative Morphology and Morphometry of the Olfactory Organ of the Six Korean Spined Loaches, Genus Iksookimia, as a New Taxonomic Key

A SHORT NOTE ON WATER QUALITY AND SOME BIODIVERSITY COMPONENTS IN GURBAN VALLEY, GIURGIU COUNTY

Several field trips were carried out in 2022 and 2023, aiming to investigate the water quality parameters, ichthyofaunal and floristic diversity in some areas of Gurban Valley, located in the protected area Natural Park Comana, Giurgiu County, southern Romania. Throughout the study period were identified fish specimens belonging to nine species: Prussian carp Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782); Gobio obtusirostris Valenciennes, 1842; Dnieper chub Petroleuciscus borysthenicus (Kessler, 1859); Roach Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758); Danubian spined loach Cobitis elongatoides Băcescu & Mayer, 1969; Belica Leucaspius delineatus (Heckel, 1843); Southern ninespine stickleback Pungitius platygaster (Kessler, 1859); European bitterling Rhodeus amarus (Bloch, 1782) and European mudminnow Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792. A total of 147 captured specimens were measured, weighed and photographed. For the capture of fish, minnow traps and plankton nets were used, on the Gurban River, right tributary of the Neajlov River, Giurgiu County. The floristic inventory compiled so far included 58 plant species grouped into 31 families, with European, circumpolar, Eurasian, eurasiatic continental or cosmopolitan distribution. Related to physico-chemical characterization of water samples collected from four sampling points (SP), the results of laboratory analysis allowed to frame the water into quality classes and to evaluate if the water meets the requirements for aquatic organisms. Hence, on the basis of nitrite-nitrogen (N-NO2-) and nitrate-nitrogen (N-NO3-) water corresponds to Ist quality class, meanwhile chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphate-phosphorus (P-PO43-) and ammonium-nitrogen (N-NH4+) allowed to associate water quality with IIIrd class. In addition, it has been found very significant correlations between electrical conductivity (EC) and total hardness (TH) with r=0.9230*** and between pH and TH with r=0.8821***, respectively.

Dynamics of Diversity of Spined Loaches of Genus Cobitis (Cobitidae) of Trans-Caucasus in the Anthropogenic Period According to the Data of Museum Collections. II. Morphokaryological Variation, Taxonomic Status, and Diagnostic Characteristics of Adjaran Spined Loaches

Dynamics of Diversity of Spined Loaches of Genus Cobitis (Cobitidae) of Trans-Caucasus in the Anthropogenic Period According to the Data of Museum Collections. II. Morphokaryological Variation, Taxonomic Status, and Diagnostic Characteristics of Adjaran Spined Loaches

Dynamics of Diversity of Spined Loaches of Genus Cobitis (Cobitidae) of Trans-Caucasus in the Anthropogenic Period According to the Data of Museum Collections. II. Morphokaryological Variation, Taxonomic Status, and Diagnostic Characteristics of Adjaran Spined Loaches

The variability of external morphological characters, coloring features, craniological and karyological characteristics of spined loaches from Adjara were studied to clarify the taxonomic diversity of spined loaches of Transcaucasia. The study was based on materials from the collection of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University, including the type series of Cobitis satunini, and original results. The morphogenetic homogeneity of the studied populations and their species isolation from other known Transcaucasian species were confirmed. Based on the data obtained, a modern species diagnosis of C. satunini sensu stricto is presented, whose range is limited to the water bodies of Adjara.

Length–weight relations for 19 freshwater fish species (Actinopterygii) from the lowland Elbe River, Germany

Monthly and mean length–weight relations (LWRs) were calculated for 19 freshwater fish species from the middle section of the lowland Elbe River (Germany): Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1758); Alburnus alburnus (Linnaeus, 1758); Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758); Ballerus ballerus (Linnaeus, 1758); Blicca bjoerkna (Linnaeus, 1758); Cobitis taenia Linnaeus, 1758; Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758; Gobio gobio (Linnaeus, 1758); Gymnocephalus cernua (Linnaeus, 1758); Leuciscus aspius (Linnaeus, 1758); Leuciscus idus (Linnaeus, 1758); Leuciscus leuciscus (Linnaeus, 1758); Lota lota (Linnaeus, 1758); Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758; Romanogobio albipinnatus (Lukasch, 1933); Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758); Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758); Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758); and Squalius cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758). The values of the exponent b in the LWR W = aTLb ranged from 2.882 (Lota lota) to 3.517 (Cobitis taenia) and the correlation coefficient (r2) was greater than 0.96 for all species except for Cobitis taenia with 0.93. The relations allow for the accurate estimation of weight from length data with reduced handling times of fish in the field while enabling comparisons with other regions and future studies. The calculated LWRs together with species-specific abundance and catch data will be useful for fisheries modeling and estimating population status and related fish species protection, especially for the endangered species in the Elbe River.

Study of the Polymorphism of ISSR Markers in Spined Loaches of the Genus Cobitis (Cobitidae) in Connection with Problems of Differentiation of the Species Involved in the Formation of Polyploid Forms of Hybrid Origin and Determination of Their Taxonomic Status

We have analyzed the polymorphism of ISSR fragments of DNA by polymerase chain reaction in spined loaches for the first time. The analysis has made it possible to successfully differentiate the genomes, which were presumably involved in the formation of polyploid forms of hybrid origin: Cobitis taenia; spined loaches from the Danube River basin, which are diagnosed as C. elongatoides; C. tanaitica from the Don River basin and spined loaches from Lake Sinoe, which are also assigned to the species C. tanaitica by a number of authors. The following conclusions have been made based on comparative morphological studies of previously undifferentiated forms: (1) spined loaches from Central Europe with karyotype 2n = 50, NF = 96 correspond to the diagnosis of the species C. elongatoides; this species also differs from a number of closely related species and polyploid forms in the origin of the dorsal fin in front of the base of the pelvic fins, as well as in the presence of a spot in the lower half of the caudal fin base; (2) spined loaches from Lake Sinoe and other populations of Central Europe with karyotype 2n = 50, NF = 86 are nonconspecific to C. tanaitica and should apparently be ranked as an independent species, C. megaspila.

Protected and alien fish species in Polish lakes in 2014-2021

The occurrence, abundance, contribution, and size structure of protected and alien fish species were studied in 535 lakes situated in the northern and central parts of Poland in 2014-2021. We hypothesised that protected fish species, due to their status, would be rare in terms of abundance within certain lakes and/or less distributed. Four protected (Cottus poecilopus, Cobitis taenia, Misgurnus fossilis, and Rhodeus amarus) and eight alien species of fish (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Neogobius fluviatilis, Pseudorasbora parva, Acipenser baerii, Carassius gibelio, Ameiurus nebulosus, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and Cyprinus carpio) were identified in the studied lakes. Among protected species, the most common and frequent were R. amarus (65% of the studied lakes) and C. taenia (47% of the studied lakes). Other two species (C. poecilopus and M. fossilis) were recorded in one (0.2%) and 18 lakes (3.4%), respectively. Alien species were most often represented by C. gibelio, which occurred in 96 lakes (18% of the studied lakes). The presence of the remaining seven alien species was found in not many lakes (0.2-5.2% of the studied lakes). The abundance of C. gibelio was positively, while A. nebulosus was negatively related to the trophic state of lakes. Cobitis taenia was positively correlated with morphometric parameters of lakes (area and maximum depth). It came as surprise to us that some protected species were quite frequent and sometimes numerous, in contrast to the majority of alien species.

Study of the Polymorphism of ISSR Markers in Spined Loaches of the Genus Cobitis (Cobitidae) in Connection with Problems of Differentiation of the Species Involved in the Formation of Polyploid Forms of Hybrid Origin and Determination of Their Taxonomic Status

We have analyzed the polymorphism of ISSR fragments of DNA by polymerase chain reaction in spined loaches for the first time. The analysis has made it possible to successfully differentiate the genomes, which were presumably involved in the formation of polyploid forms of hybrid origin: Cobitis taenia; spined loaches from the Danube River basin, which are diagnosed as C. elongatoides; C. tanaitica from the Don River basin and spined loaches from Lake Sinoe, which are also assigned to the species C. tanaitica by a number of authors. The following conclusions have been made based on comparative morphological studies of previously undifferentiated forms: (1) spined loaches from Central Europe with karyotype 2n = 50, NF = 96 correspond to the diagnosis of the species C. elongatoides; this species also differs from a number of closely related species and polyploid forms in the origin of the dorsal fin in front of the base of the pelvic fins, as well as in the presence of a spot in the lower half of the caudal fin base; (2) spined loaches from Lake Sinoe and other populations of Central Europe with karyotype 2n = 50, NF = 86 are nonconspecific to C. tanaitica and should apparently be ranked as an independent species, C. megaspila

Endangered spined loach Cobitis species in Southwest Germany: A complex network of native, hybrid and newly emerged populations

AbstractSuccessful conservation of cryptic species such as representatives of the genus Cobitis presents a challenge for fishery managers. Only Cobitis taenia L. is currently assumed to occur in southwest Germany, where it is classified as critically endangered. Established genetic markers and eDNA analysis identified three Cobitis species in the study area. Cobitis taenia and Cobitis elongatoides were widely distributed in the Rhine River system, primarily forming hybrid species complexes in which polyploid individuals dominate but coexist with diploid parent species. A third non‐native species, Cobitis bilineata, has recently become established in the southern part of the Rhine to which it probably migrated naturally via the connected Aare River system. In the Danube River catchment, two populations, including one previously thought to be extinct, comprise both diploid and polyploid representatives of C. elongatoides. Our results provide an important basis for more targeted conservation strategies for Cobitis species currently found in the region.

PIT-tagging Italian spined loach (Cobitis bilineata): Methodology, survival and behavioural effects.

The Italian spined loach (Cobitis bilineata) is an elongated, small-sized (<12 cm) spined loach native to northern Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. As for loaches in general, little is known about the individual movements of this loach in nature. Passive integrated transponders (PIT-tags) are small (typically 7-32 mm), relatively cheap and allow tracking of individual fish movements and behaviour. A fundamental assumption in animal telemetry is that the performance of a tagged animal does not deviate substantially from its natural performance. Although PIT-tagged fish often display high survival and tag retention, the effect varies between species and contexts, and few studies have looked at behavioural effects of PIT-tagging. Here we demonstrate a PIT-tagging methodology for spined loaches, and compare survival, activity and provoked escape response (maximum swimming speed) between tagged and control fish. We also track tag retention in the tagged fish. Italian spined loaches tagged with 12 mm PIT-tags displayed high tag retention and no extra mortality, and no effects of tagging on activity or maximum swimming speed were observed. The tag-to-fish weight and length ratios in our study ranged from 2% to 5% and from 10% to 16%, respectively, and we conclude that PIT-tagging, within these ratios, appears suitable for Italian spined loach.

IDENTIFICATION OF THREATS OF FISH PROTECTED SPECIES IN THE SITE ROSCI0045 THE JIU CORRIDOR

This paper presents the results of the research on threats of fish protected species in the site ROSCI0045 the Jiu corridor. In the site ROSCI0045 the Jiu corridor there have been identified 15 species of fish: Alosa immaculata Aspius aspius, Barbus barbus,Barbus meridionalis,Cobitis taenia, Gobio albipinnatus, Gobio kessleri, Gymnocephalus baloni, Gymnocephalus schraetzer, Misgurnus fossilis, Pelecus cultratus, Rhodeus sericeus, amarus, Sabanejewia aurata, Zingel streber, Zingel zingel. From the analysis of threats off fish protected species in the site ROSCI0045 The Jiu Corridor it was found that for every endangered spercies there are several threats.

Cobitis indus, a new spined loach from the Dalaman River in the Eastern Aegean Sea basin (Teleostei: Cobitidae).

Cobitis indus, new species, from the Dalaman River drainage, is distinguished from other Cobitis species in the eastern Aegean Sea basin by having two laminae circularis, a bifurcate suborbital spine, a narrow caudal peduncle, pigmentation zone 4 with 1724 small blotches often fused into a stripe, pigmentation below Z4 usually absent, and one black, comma-shaped spot at the upper caudal-fin base. It is further distinguished from its closest relative, C. dorademiri, by having 13 diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mtDNA COI barcode region and a K2P nearestneighbour distance of 2.32.7%. This is the fourth Cobitis species found in the Dalaman River drainage making this river the most species-rich in spined loaches in the Middle East.

Ichthyofauna of the Bilotserkivskyi lower reservoir on the Ros river

The composition of ichthyofauna of Ukraine is changing due to natural processes and the influence of anthropogenic factors in the internal water bodies. Systematic analysis of changes allows controlling these processes and maintaining the diversity of species at a constant level. The purpose of the study was to investigate changes in the composition of the ichthyofauna of the Bilotserkivskyi lower reservoir (Ros River) after the discharge of industrial waste of the Bilotserkivvoda enterprise in 2017 and 2020, which led to the mass death of fish and crayfish. The studies were conducted by catching fish with species identification and a survey of fishermen from November 2016 to October 2020. Additionally, the species composition of fish in this section of the Ros River was considered before the reservoir was created. According to the results of the conducted studies, 24 fish species were identified in 2016, 21 in 2017, and 19 in 2020. Analysing the number of ichthyofauna since the 1960s, it can be concluded that every 10 years the species composition of the ichthyofauna of the Bilotserkivskyi lower reservoir lost about 2-3 species of fish, which is conditioned by the influence of riverbed overlap, industrial activities, uncontrolled and unidentified discharges into the reservoir, etc. After a detailed analysis of the number of ichthyofauna, it was established that by 2016, the following species had disappeared: common dace Leuciscus leuciscus, Dnieper chub P. borysthenicus, ide I. idus, sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus, vimba bream Vimba vimba, crucian carp Carassius carassius, weatherfish Misgurnus fossilis, spined loach Cobitis taenia; in 2017 – species such as gudgeon Gobio gobio, round goby Neogobius melanostomus, tubenose goby Proterorhinus marmoratus; in 2020 – char, ruffe. Quantitative and qualitative restoration of ichthyofauna is possible at the expense of fish from the Protoka River (Rotok). To continue fishing use, it is necessary to settle fish in the reservoir. The practical significance of this study is to determine the species composition of the ichthyofauna for further use of the reservoir for environmental and fishery purposes

Clonal gametogenesis is triggered by intrinsic stimuli in the hybrid’s germ cells but is dependent on sex differentiation

Interspecific hybridization may trigger the transition from sexual reproduction to asexuality, but mechanistic reasons for such a change in a hybrid's reproduction are poorly understood. Gametogenesis of many asexual hybrids involves a stage of premeiotic endoreplication (PMER), when gonial cells duplicate chromosomes and subsequent meiotic divisions involve bivalents between identical copies, leading to production of clonal gametes. Here, we investigated the triggers of PMER and whether its induction is linked to intrinsic stimuli within a hybrid's gonial cells or whether it is regulated by the surrounding gonadal tissue. We investigated gametogenesis in the Cobitis taenia hybrid complex, which involves sexually reproducing species (Cobitis elongatoides and C. taenia) as well as their hybrids, where females reproduce clonally via PMER while males are sterile. We transplanted spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from C. elongatoides and triploid hybrid males into embryos of sexual species and of asexual hybrid females, respectively, and observed their development in an allospecific gonadal environment. Sexual SSCs underwent regular meiosis and produced normally reduced gametes when transplanted into clonal females. On the other hand, the hybrid's SSCs lead to sterility when transplanted into sexual males but maintained their ability to undergo asexual development (PMER) and production of clonal eggs, when transplanted into sexual females. This suggests that asexual gametogenesis is under complex control when somatic gonadal tissue indirectly affects the execution of asexual development by determining the sexual differentiation of stem cells and once such cells develop to female phenotypes, hybrid germ cells trigger the PMER from their intrinsic signals.

Triploid forms’ karyotypes of spined loaches from the genus Cobitis (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) of the upper Dnieper and Western Dvina rivers: Analysis of the triploids’ origin

Unisexual forms of lower vertebrates (fish, amphibians, and reptiles) reproduced by parthenogenesis, gynogenesis, or hybridogenesis are represented by diploids, triploids, or tetraploids, whose origin is associated with interspecific hybridization. Among fish species, the highest variability of unisexual polyploids was found in the genus Cobitis. The structure of their genomes and putative parental species holds great interest for the investigation in association with questions about possible evolutionary success. In particular, it serves to elucidate the possible high colonization properties of a few polyploid forms, in contrast to the local history of rather numerous hybrid forms with a limited distribution. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the karyotype structure of two newly discovered triploid forms of the genus Cobitis, to analyze their origin and putative parental species. The karyotype structure of 182 spined loach individuals from the Western Dvina River and 91 individuals from the upper Dnieper River of the Smolensk District of Russia was studied. A total of 121 studied individuals from the Western Dvina comprised triploid females with a chromosome number 74 and karyotype consisting of 13 meta-, 39 submeta-, and 22 subtelo-acrocentric chromosomes. Among loaches collected in the upper Dnieper River, 42 triploid females were found with 74 chromosome number including 23 meta-, 26 submeta-, and 25 subtelo-acrocentric chromosomes. Other individuals from both localities were karyologically identified as Cobitis taenia Linnaeus, 1758 with 2n = 48. The triploid form of spined loaches of the Western Dvina River most likely arose as a result of the hybridization of Cobitis tanaitica Bǎcescu et Mayer, 1969 and C. taenia. The range of C. tanaitica, whose karyotype is characterized by an evolutionarily fixed Y-autosomal translocation, is limited to the rivers of the northern coast of the Black Sea. Therefore, hybridization probably happened in late Pleistocene in the Dnieper River system, where both parental species occur. The triploid form that arose here is unique for the Baltic Sea basin. Probably, it colonized the Western Dvina through the artificial Berezinskaya water system (Berezina Canal = Daugava–Dnieper Canal), but at the same time it was forced out of its area of origin by other triploid forms which are now widespread there. According to the karyotype structure, the triploid form, common for both the upper and lower reaches of the Dnieper, has a trihybrid origin, with probable hybridization of Cobitis elongatoides Bǎcescu et Mayer, 1969, C. tanaitica, and yet unidentified species Cobitis sp. Both studied triploid forms are parts of unisexual-bisexual complexes, in which their putative diploid maternal species (C. tanaitica and C. elongatoides) are absent, and the role of the host species involved in reproduction belongs to C. taenia.

Water velocity preferences of two benthic fishes, spined loach Cobitis taenia and Northern golden loach Sabanejewia baltica: an experimental approach

Bottom-dwelling fishes with low swimming capacity burrow into soft substrates or occupy shelters, such as stones and vegetation, to reduce metabolic costs of holding their position in running waters. As a consequence, under natural conditions it can be difficult to examine the effect of water flow as the limiting factor of benthic fishes. The velocity (0, 10, 20, and 30 cm s−1) preferences of spined loach and Northern golden loach were examined experimentally in an isosceles, cross-shaped acrylic tank with five square chambers (side of 15 cm and 40 cm high). Fish could select freely between a sheltered place without water flow (two side cells) and with flow (three) cells. Fishes were observed for 40 min by taking time-lapse photos every 0.5 min, with the first 7.5 min (= 15 photos) treated as an acclimatization period. Each treatment was repeated 10 times with 65 photos analysed. The disparity between the proportion of fish observed in the active and passive areas of the tank was used as the preference or avoidance of the velocity treatment. Northern golden loach showed a random distribution between cells (no bias from a proportion of 3:2), only at a velocity 0 cm s−1 revealing strong preference for water flow 10 and 20 cm s−1 and avoidance of velocity of 30 cm s−1. Spined loach preferred a velocity of 10 cm s−1 and avoided velocities of 20 and 30 cm s−1. Surprisingly fish were not randomly distributed at a velocity of 0 cm s−1, at which they were more frequently found in passive cells than active ones. The results confirm that Northern golden loach is a rheophilic fish occurring only in running waters, whereas spined loach is an ubiquitous species distributed in slow-flowing as well as stagnant waters.

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In 2020, waters and territories of the eastern part of Emerald Network object “Samarskyi Lis – UA0000212” were studied by biology specialists. The main purpose of the research was to identify rare species of plants and animals. We found species of flora and fauna protected by European Red List, Red Data Book of Ukraine, Additions to the Bern Convention and Regional Red Data Book. The list of plant species subjected to special protection contains 42 species, including Allium savranicum, Agropyron dasyanthum, and Jurinea cyanoides. It is noted that in the eastern part of the Emerald Network object “Samarskyi Lis ‒ UA0000212” the presence of other rare plant species is assumed (Senecio borysthenicus (D&amp;c.) Andrz., Agropyron dasyanthum Ledeb, Viola lavrenkoana Klokov., Allium savranicum Besser). This matter requires monitoring in various phenological periods of the year. Concerning entomofauna in the eastern part of the Emerald Network object “Samarskyi Lis – UA0000212” it was found 7 species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009): Lucanus cervus, Papilio machaon, Iphiclides podalirius, Zerunthia polyxena, Xylocopa valla, Scolіa maculata, Catocala sponsa, as well as 2 species of insects protected by the provisions of the Bern Convention ‒ Lucanus cervus, Lycaena dispar. The ichthyofauna of the eastern part of the Emerald Network object “Samarskyi Lis ‒ UA0000212” includes 4 species that are listed in the Bern Convention: Leucaspius delineatus, Rhodeus amarus, Cobitis taenia, Sykhorn abotter. Analysis of terrestrial vertebrates revealed the presence of 95 species to be protected. There are 5 species of amphibians (three of them are included in the International Red List – Lissotriton vulgaris, Hyla arborea, Bufo bufo), as well as 6 species of reptiles, among which one is protected by IUCN (Emys orbicularis), two species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (Coronella austriaca, Vipera renardi). 74 species of birds were found in the study area. Three of them (Coracias garrulus, Ciconia nigra and Buteo rufinus) are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. In the eastern part of the Emerald Network object “Samarskyi Lis ‒ UA0000212” there are 10 species of mammals, of which nine are protected by the provisions of the Bern Convention, and two species (Eptesicus serotinus, Nyctalus noctula) are listed in the Red Data Book Of Ukraine. It is proposed to conduct further monitoring studies in the eastern part of the Emerald Network “Samarskyi Lis ‒ UA00002122”