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Spined loach
Steinbeißer
Scientific name: Cobitis taenia
NativeFreshwater
Behavior
Active at dusk and at night. Lives over sandy or muddy substrates in small streams, rivers, and lake shores, often burrowing into the substrate. Feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates; spawns among stone crevices, roots, or aquatic plants.
Features
Elongated, slightly compressed body, with a movable forked spine below the eye. Zebra-like bars along the flank. Small, usually under 10 cm.
Distribution
Found from France to Russia. In Germany mainly in the northern lowlands and the lower reaches of the Elbe, Weser, and Ems and their tributaries; also a stable population in Brandenburg.