Autochthonous fishes
Autochthonous or native species of the Neretva basin fish are often endemic to the region. They are also often threatened or even critically endangered.
Salmonids
Salmonid fish from the Neretva basin show considerable variation in morphology, ecology and behaviour. The Neretva also has many other endemic and fragile life forms that are near extinction. [4] [5]
Among most endangered are three endemic species or varieties of the Neretva trout: Neretvan softmouth trout ( Salmo obtusirostris oxyrhinchus , Bosnian : Neretvanska mekousna pastrmka), [6] toothtrout ( Salmo dentex , Bosnian : Zubatak, [7] and marble trout ( Salmo marmoratus , Bosnian : Glavatica. [8] Genetic analyses of the trouts find little if any distinction between " Salmo dentex " and Salmo marmoratus of the Neretva basin, however. [9]
| Local common name | English common name | Scientific name | Status | Conservation status (IUCN) | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mekousna | Softmouth also Adriatic trout | Salmo obtusirostris oxyrhyncus | Native & endemic | Endangered |  | *notes |
| Glavatica | Marble trout | Salmo marmoratus | Native & endemic | *Critically endangered |  | * IUCN evaluated only the Soča and the Po basins population so far as Least concerned |
| Zubatak | Dentex trout | Salmo dentex | Native & endemic | *Critically endangered |  | * No evaluation by IUCN due to data deficiency |
| Potočara | Brown trout | Salmo trutta fario (Adriatic lineage) | Native | Threatened | Example | *notes |
All three endemic trout species of the Neretva are endangered mostly due to the habitat destruction or construction of large and major dams (large is higher than 15–20 m; major is over 150–250 m) [10] in particular and hybridization or genetic pollution with introduced, non-native trout, also from illegal fishing as well as poor management of water and fisheries especially in form of introduction of invasive allochthonous species (dams, overfishing, mismanagement, genetic pollution, invasive species). [11] [12]
Cyprinids
As with the Neretva salmonids, the most endangered of cyprinids (family Cyprinidae) are endemic species. Especially interesting are four or five Phoxinellus (or Delminichthys and Telestes ) (sub)species that inhabit isolated karstic plains (poljes) of eastern as well as western Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which eventually drain their waters to the Neretva watershed and/or coastal drainages of south-eastern Dalmatia in Croatia.
- Adriatic minnow ( Phoxinellus alepidotus , Bosnian : Uklja, Croatian : Pijurica), endemic to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, occurs in lowland water bodies, with little current. It is threatened due to pollution and habitat destruction. [13] It is considered endangered.
- South Dalmatian minnow ( Phoxinellus pstrossii , Bosnian : Trebinjska gaovica), which has recently been taxonomically fused with the Dalmatian minnow (see below).
- Dalmatian minnow ( Delminichthys ghetaldii or Phoxinellus ghetaldii, Bosnian : Popovska gaovica) is considered vulnerable.
- Spotted minnow ( Delminichthys adspersus or Phoxinellus adspersus, Bosnian : Gaovica) is endemic to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. This species is present in the Tihaljina River, which is fed by underground waters from Imotsko polje and is connected to the Trebižat River via the Mlada River, and also occurs in Mostarsko Blato wetlands. Fish were found in the source of the Norin River, a right-hand tributary of the lower Neretva at Metković, in Croatia, at Kuti Lake, a left-hand tributary of the lower Neretva, at Imotsko polje in Red Lake and the Vrljika River drainage and near Vrgorac in the Matica River system. [14] It is considered vulnerable.
- Karst minnow ( Telestes metohiensis or Phoxinellus metohiensis, Bosnian : Gatačka gaovica) is considered Vulnerable (VU).
- Turskyi dace ( Telestes turskyi , Bosnian : Turski klijen) [15] inhabits karstic waters, Lake Buško Blato in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Krka and Čikola Rivers in Croatia. It occurs in water courses on the low plains, with little current and in lakes. It feeds on invertebrates. It is threatened due to water abstraction and pollution. It is considered Critically Endangered (CR).
- Minnow-nase ( Chondrostoma phoxinus , Bosnian : Podbila) is considered Critically Endangered (CR).
- Neretvan nase , also Dalmatian nase and Dalmatian soiffe ( Chondrostoma knerii , Bosnian : Neretvanska podustva) [16] is endemic to the Neretva River basin. It is mainly distributed in the lower parts and delta of the Neretva River shared between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the river's left tributary Krupa River, Nature Park Hutovo Blato wetlands, and Neretva Delta wetlands. It occurs in water bodies with little current. It is threatened by habitat destruction and pollution. [17] It is considered Vulnerable (VU).
- Adriatic dace or Balkan dace ( Squalius svallize , Bosnian : Strugač; Croatian : Sval) [18] is endemic to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, also to Montenegro and Albania. Adults inhabit water bodies on the low plains, with little current and in lakes. They feed on invertebrates. It is threatened due to pollution, habitat destruction and due to introduction of other species. It is considered vulnerable.
- Illyrian dace ( Squalius illyricus , Bosnian : Ilirski klijen) [19] inhabits karstic waters of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Albania. It occurs in water courses on low plains, with little current. It feeds on invertebrates. It is threatened due to habitat destruction, pollution and the introduction of other species. It is considered Near Threatened (NT).
- Dalmatian barbelgudgeon ( Aulopyge hugelii , Bosnian : Oštrulja) [20] inhabits karstic streams of Glamocko polje, Livanjsko polje and Duvanjsko polje, lakes Buško Blato, Blidinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cetina, Krka and Zrmanja river drainages in Croatia. It occurs in lentic waters, and feeds on plants. The fish is threatened by water pollution and habitat destruction. It is migratory in Livanjsko polje. It is considered endangered.
Cobitidae
Neretvan spined loach ( Cobitis narentana Bosnian : Neretvanski vijun) is an Adriatic watershed endemic fish that inhabits a narrow area of the Neretva watershed in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. [21] In Bosnia and Herzegovina it inhabits only the downstream of the Neretva River and its smaller tributaries like the Matica River. In Croatia it is a strictly protected species and inhabits only the Neretva delta and its smaller tributaries, the (Norin) and lake systems of the Neretva delta (Baćina lakes, Kuti, Desne, Modro oko. [21] It is considered Vulnerable (VU).
Neretva delta endemics
The ichthyofauna of the Neretva delta is rich in endemic species, and there are more than 20 endemic species, of which 18 species are endemic species of the Adriatic watershed, and three endemic species in Croatia. Nearly half (45%) of the total number of species that inhabit this area are included in one of the categories of threat, and are mainly endemic species. [1]
