The rarest European fish

Romanichthys valsanicola is the scientific name of the fish known as the sculpin-perch, asprete, or Romanian darter, the only member of the Romanichthys genus of the fish family Percidae.


It was scientifically discovered and described in 1957 by the Romanian scientists M. Dumitrescu, P. Bănărescu and N. Stoica. Local names include: asprete, poprete, sforete. Endemic to a very restricted area in southern Romania, it was found in the upper reach of the Argeş river and in two of its tributaries: Râul Doamnei and Vâlsan. Due to hydrotechnical constructions and deterioration of its habitat, it survived only in the tributary Vâlsan. This species is an endangered freshwater fish and is found on the Red List of IUCN. Its area of distribution has drastically diminished and is now considered the European fish genus with the most restricted area.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percidae
Genus: Romanichthys
Species: R. valsanicola
Binomial name: Romanichthys valsanicola (Dumitrescu, Bănărescu & Stoica, 1957)

It is a small, grey-brownish fish, 10-12 cm long, covered with small, rough scales. Found in cold, clear, fast-flowing waters, hidden under rocks. Territorial. The time of reproduction is in May and June. It lays eggs on rocks. It feeds on insect aquatic larvae, mainly Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera. (From Wikipedia)