Genetic diversity of three pure populations of Cobitis elongatoides from hydrologically and geographically different drainage areas, the Lužnice River (48.49.60 N, 14.55.60 E, Labe River drainage area, North Sea basin), the Nová Říše reservoir (49.09.11 N, 15.32.464 E, Morava River drainage area, Black Sea basin), and the Ida River (48.32.284 N, 21.03.421 E, Tisza River drainage area, Black Sea basin) was evaluated by sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Species identification of unknown Cobitis samples from Vipava River drainage area in Slovenia was also performed based on cytochrome b sequence. All forms of the genus Cobitis are protected by national legislatives and, in accordance with the Council Directive No. 925/43/EEC, they enjoy protection in selected localities of European importance. In total, 11 haplotypes of Cobitis elongatoides were found in Czech and Slovak waters, manifesting low overall genetic diversity. Samples from Vipava River drainage area were identified as Cobitis bilineata.
The morphometric, meristic and phenotypical characters of the members of the genus Alburnus from the Adriatic Basin were analyzed on specimens from 11 localities, representing eight watersheds. The number of gill rakers, the number of lateral line scales, the number of branched anal fi n rays and the coverage of the ventral keel by scales have the greatest signifi cance in differentiating between species. Signifi cant morphological differences exist between the Alburnus population from Lake Lugano (type locality for Alborella maxima Fatio, 1882) and all the remaining investigated populations. Alburnus from the Neretva River drainage is described as a new species and it is distinguished from other species of the genus Alburnus by the following combination of characters: 131/2-151/2 branched anal fi n rays; 17-26 gill rakers; 40-48 lateral line scales; fi rst anal fi n ray below branched dorsal rays 6-10 or located up to one scale after the last dorsal fi n ray; ventral keel exposed for at least 2/3 of a distance between the pelvic fi n base and the anal aperture. The status of the Neretva River basin populations as a separate species was corroborated by genetic analyses, with p-distance between newly described species and A. arborella from the Zrmanja River 1.8-2.2%.
Five species of the genus Gobio have been recorded in Slovenia. G. albipinnatus Lukasch, 1933, G. uranoscopus (Agassiz. 1828), G.Gobio (Linnaeus, 1758) and G. kesslerii Dybowski, 1862 inhabit watercourses of the Danube River in the eastern part of Slovenia (the ecatchments of the Sava, Drava and Mura rivers). G. benacensis (Pollini, 1816 inhabits Adriatic sea basin (the catchment of the Vipava river). The last one was found in Slovenia for the first time in October 2003. In the Red List of Slovenian Freshwater Fishes and Lampreys three species G. albipinnatus, G. uranoscopus and G. kesslerii are classified as vulnerable (V). These species were proposed to be added in Annex II of Council Directive 92/43/EEC.