Dalmatian barbelgudgeon

The Dalmatian barbelgudgeon is a distinctive ray-finned fish native to Europe and the sole species in the genus Aulopyge. The name Aulopyge derives from the Greek words "aulós" and "pygé" meaning "fluted tail-stem." This fish's species name honors Charles von Hügel, an Austrian naturalist. First mentioned in 1841, the species was officially described a year later, although a misspelling in 1843 caused some historical confusion. The IUCN Red List recognizes 1842 as the correct year of description.

In terms of appearance, the Dalmatian barbelgudgeon resembles a hybrid between a barbel and a gudgeon but is actually more closely related to barbels such as Barbus and Luciobarbus. This fish inhabits Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, primarily in karst environments. It is a nocturnal species, migrating to karst caves to spawn when water temperatures exceed 20°C. The female uses a specialized ovipositor to lay her eggs in rock and gravel crevices.

Although the Dalmatian barbelgudgeon remains locally common, it faces several threats, including habitat loss due to damming, unsustainable water extraction for agriculture, water pollution, and competition from non-native species. Because of these threats, the IUCN has classified it as endangered.