Danube Delta dwarf goby
Knipowitschia cameliae
Knipowitschia cameliae, the Danube delta dwarf goby, is a species of goby known only from the brackish and fresh waters of a lagoon south of the Danube Delta in Romania. This fish is a shallow water species being found in waters less than 1 metre (3.
1
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) davide bellucci, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by davide bellucci
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Perciformes
Family
Gobiidae
Genus
Knipowitschia
Danube Delta dwarf goby belongs to the family Gobiidae, order Perciformes, within the unknown class.
Species Profile
Knipowitschia cameliae, the Danube delta dwarf goby, is a species of goby known only from the brackish and fresh waters of a lagoon south of the Danube Delta in Romania. This fish is a shallow water species being found in waters less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) deep. This species can reach a length of 3.2 centimetres (1.3 in) SL. This species has been assessed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered, possibly extinct, it was last recorded in 1994 and surveys in that year and 1998 have failed to record the species. The specific name honours Camelia Iliana Nalbant, the wife of the senior author.
The Danube Delta dwarf goby faces severe threats from habitat degradation and water pollution in its extremely limited range within the Danube Delta. Agricultural runoff, industrial pollution, and hydrological modifications have significantly altered the water quality and ecosystem structure of the shallow, vegetated waters this endemic species depends on.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Danube Delta dwarf goby faces severe threats from habitat degradation and water pollution in its extremely limited range within the Danube Delta. Agricultural runoff, industrial pollution, and hydrological modifications have significantly altered the water quality and ecosystem structure of the shallow, vegetated waters this endemic species depends on.
Extremely small population size and restricted range
Habitat degradation and loss
Hydrological modifications and water management
Industrial pollution and contamination
Water pollution from agricultural runoff
Found in 1 Country
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Danube Delta dwarf goby (Knipowitschia cameliae). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/danube-delta-dwarf-goby