Distribution Update of the Endemic Vettonian Spined Loach Cobitis vettonica Doadrio & Perdices, 1997, in Portugal ^†

Abstract

Current knowledge of the Iberian freshwater fish fauna distributions need to be updated. Species with localized distributions in places with difficult access are more susceptible to being overlooked. This situation is critically important for endemic species with restricted distribution and potentially threatened status, which should be included in the national Red List. Since the beginning of the XXI century, more than 15 new Iberian endemic freshwater fish species have been described or reassigned, with only half of them exhibiting some threatened criteria. Despite the updated distribution of the widespread species C. paludica and C. vettonica in Spain, the distribution of C. vettonica remains unknown in Portugal in spite of some indications, suggesting the presence of this species in Portugal. Cobitis vettonica Doadrio & Perdices, 1997, found in the Alagón river, a tributary of the Tagus in Spain, and was also found in the Águeda river, a tributary of the Duero drainage (Spain). In this study, we reported the Vettonian spined loach also known as the Alagón spined loach (Cobitis vettonica), for the first time in Portugal. We found C. vettonica specimens in three tributaries of the Tagus in Portugal: Erges, Aravil and Ponsul, in ten localities. These three Portuguese rivers are adjacent to the Alagón river in Spain (the type locality of C. vettonica). We found C. vettonica in sympatry with C. paludica in six localities of these three tributaries. Cobitis vettonica is endangered in the Spanish Red List, and its threatened status must be defined for Portuguese waters.