Kuban'S Nase

The only species of the genus in Kuban drainage which can be diagnosed from other congeners in Black and Caspian Sea basins by the following characters: straight mouth, lower lip with thick cornified sheath; 54-62 scales on lateral line; dorsal fin usually with 8½ branched rays; anal fin usually with 10½ branched rays; eye small, diameter 44-52% of interorbital distance; body laterally compressed, width at dorsal fin origin 45-54% of depth; and body lacking dark lateral stripe (Ref. 59043).

Begins spawning migration in January-February to uppermost montane reaches, entering small shallow streams with very fast current. Spawning occurs at sites with gravel or hard sand, with rapids and swift current (up to 1.5 m/s), 0.2-1.0 m deep, in clean water with high oxygen concentrations. Females deposit 1000-1250 eggs, during a short period, usually in a single night, but often in several portions. At a given spawning site, most individuals breed over 3-4 nights. Eggs are sticky and adhere to substrate (Ref. 59043).

Inhabits piedmont and montane rivers with strong current and gravel bottom. Occurs most of the year in the middle or upper stretches of rivers and moves downstream in winter to lower stretches or larger tributaries. Feeds predominantly on detritus, but also takes periphyton, benthic invertebrates, especially during first year of life. Spawns at sites with gravel or hard sand, with rapids and swift current (up to 1.5 m/s), 0.2-1.0 m deep, in clean water with high oxygen concentrations. Very sensitive to water quality, especially turbidity (Ref. 59043).

Kuban's nase or Kuban nase (Chondrostoma kubanicum) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae.

It is found in the Kuban River drainage in the North Caucasus region in Russia.