Italian gudgeon
Romanogobio benacensis
Romanogobio benacensis, the Italian gudgeon, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Gobionidae, the gudgeons. It is found in Italy and Slovenia.
3
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanogobio_benacensis
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Cypriniformes
Family
Cyprinidae
Genus
Romanogobio
Italian gudgeon belongs to the family Cyprinidae, order Cypriniformes, within the unknown class.
Species Profile
Romanogobio benacensis, the Italian gudgeon, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Gobionidae, the gudgeons. It is found in Italy and Slovenia. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Italian gudgeon faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat degradation from water pollution, river channelization, and dam construction that fragments its freshwater ecosystems. Introduced non-native fish species compete for resources and alter the ecological balance of its limited range in northern Italian river systems.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Italian gudgeon faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat degradation from water pollution, river channelization, and dam construction that fragments its freshwater ecosystems. Introduced non-native fish species compete for resources and alter the ecological balance of its limited range in northern Italian river systems.
Dam construction and flow regulation
River channelization and habitat modification
Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban discharge
Climate change affecting water temperature and flow patterns
Competition from introduced non-native fish species
Found in 3 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | ENEndangered | ENEndangered | Same |
| EU | ENEndangered | ENEndangered | 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). Italian gudgeon (Romanogobio benacensis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/italian-gudgeon