Pomatoschistus bathi Miller, 1982

Common Name and Taxonomy

Pomatoschistus bathi, commonly known as Bath's goby, is a species of goby.

Distribution

It is native to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and has also been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and along scattered locations from the southwestern French coast to the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea.

Habitat and Depth Range

This species lives at depths between 7 and 14 metres (23 to 46 ft) in areas with substrates that contain sand or mud.

Maximum Size

It can reach a maximum total length of 3 centimetres (1.2 in).

Diet Composition

Its diet consists of bosmiden, brine shrimps, lobster eggs, oyster eggs, zoobenthos, and zooplankton.

Initial Conservation Status

In 2013, this species was classified as data deficient on conservation assessments.

Updated Conservation Status

The following year, its conservation status was changed to Least Concern, because its population is believed to be stable, no threats to the species are currently known, and it may be under-represented in existing surveys.

Etymology of Specific Name

The specific name of the species honors German ichthyologist Hans Walter Bath (1924–2015).