■ One of endangered species living in freshwater, Microphysogobio koreensis showed the secret of spawning for the first time.

■ It was Inland Fisheries Research Institute of National Fisheries R&D Institute that unveiled the secret in the wake of years of research.

■ The research team has made the very first successful shooting in a tributary of the Seomjin river, Shinpyeong-myeon, Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, Korea since the academic circles reported it in 1935.

■ The video clip illustrates that fertilization can occur after competitions of several males and they have evolved scarlet nuptial color.

○ It also shows spawning occurs for 10 days in a crack of small gravels from 50~100㎝ water depth and the fertilized egg is quite small(1.8㎜ of diameter) and the hatching season is 4 times shorter than other species.

○ At this moment, one female spawns 2,200 eggs at a time.

■ The species is about 10cm and moves very fast. Moreover, the Korean endemic species is sensitive to stress living in only some branch streams of Nakdong and Seomjin River. As the fish has drastically decreased, it was designated and protected as an endangered speciesⅡ.

■ It was a precious opportunity to see the spawning of Microphysogobio koreensis and to give how to protect and restore endangered species and habitats.

■ The head of Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Dr. Baek Jaemin said "It will be a cornerstone for us to go further to secure sovereignty of endemic species and prepare for a war on biological resources."