Davut Turan

Capoeta mauricii n. sp., a new species of cyprinid fish from Lake Beyşehir, Turkey

Abstract Capoeta mauricii n. sp. is described from the Lake Beyşehir drainage, in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is distinguished from other Anatolian Capoeta by having the lips somewhat fleshy and lower lip with developed lateral lobes; a few irregular small black spots on the dorsal and lateral body, dorsal and caudal fins in individuals approximately smaller than 170 mm SL, and body, head and fins plain and without black spots in larger individuals (SL>200 mm); 80–87 total lateral line scales, 18–22 scales between dorsal fin origin and lateral line, 11–14 scales between the anal-fin origin and the lateral line, 16–18 gill rakers on outer side of first gill arch, and small black spots on head, body, and fins.

Salmokottelati, a new species of trout from Alakır Stream, draining to the Mediterranean in southern Anatolia, Turkey (Teleostei, Salmonidae).

Abstract Salmo kottelati sp. n., is described from Alakır Stream (Mediterranean basin) in Turkey. It is distinguished from other Anatolian Salmo species by a combination of the following characters (none unique to the species): general body colour greenish to silvery in life; 7–9 parr marks along lateral line; four dark bands on flank absent in both sexes; black ocellated spots few, present only on upper part of flank in individuals smaller than 160 mm SL but in larger both males and females black spots numerous and located on back and middle and upper part of flank; red spots few to numerous, scattered on median, and half of lower and upper part of flank; head long (length 29–33% SL in males, 26–32 in females); mouth large (length of mouth gape 13–19% SL in males, 12–15 in females); maxilla long (length 10–13% SL in males, 8–12 in females); 105–113 lateral line scales; 24–29 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 17–19 scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin; 13–15 scales between lateral line and adipose-fin insertion.

Alburnoides manyasensis (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae), a new species of cyprinid fish from Manyas Lake basin, Turkey

Abstract Alburnoides manyasensis, sp. n., is described from the Koca Stream (Lake Manyas drainage, Marmara Sea basin) in Anatolia. It is distinguished from all species of Alburnoides in Turkey and adjacent regions, Alburnoides tzanevi (Rezovska [Rezve], Istranca and Terkos streams in the western Black Sea drainage), Alburnoides cf. smyrnae (Banaz Stream, a drainage of Büyük Menderes River, Aegean Sea basin), Alburnoides fasciatus (streams and rivers in the eastern Black Sea drainage) and Alburnoides eichwaldii (Kura and Aras rivers [a drainage of Kura River], Caspian Sea basin) by a combination of the following characters (none unique to the species):marked hump at nape, especially in specimens larger than 60 mm SL; partly developed ventral keel between pelvic fin and anal fin, scaleless 1/2 to 2/3 its length; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 29−32% SL; caudal peduncle depth 11−12% SL; 45–52+ 2–3 lateral-line scales; 9–12 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; 4–5 scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin, 10½–12½ branched anal-fin rays; 40–42 total vertebrae.

Three new species of Alburnoides (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Euphrates River, Eastern Anatolia, Turkey

Three new species of Alburnoides, Alburnoides emineae sp. n., Alburnoides velioglui sp. n., Alburnoides recepi sp. n., are described from the Euphrates River drainages (Persian Gulf basin) in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Alburnoides emineae, from Beyazsu Stream (south-eastern Euphrates River drainage), is distinguished from all species of Alburnoides in Turkey and adjacent regions by a combination of the following characters (none unique to the species): a well developed ventral keel between pelvic and anal fins, commonly scaleless or very rarely 1-2 scales covering the anterior portion of the keel; a deep body (depth at dorsal-fin origin 31-36% SL); 37-43 + 1-2 lateral-line scales, 13½-15½ branched anal-fin rays; number of total vertebrae 41-42, modally 41, comprising 20-21 abdominal and 20-21 caudal vertebrae. Alburnoides velioglui, from Sırlı, Karasu, Divriği and Sultansuyu streams (northern and northeastern Euphrates River drainages), is distinguished by a poorly developed ventral keel, completely scaled; a moderately deep body (depth at dorsal-fin origin 24-29% SL); 45-53 + 1-2 lateral-line scales, 11½ -13½ branched anal-fin rays; number of total vertebrae 41-42, modally 42, comprising 20-22 abdominal and 20-21 caudal vertebrae. Alburnoides recepi, from Merzimen Stream (southern Euphrates River drainage), is distinguished by a well developed ventral keel, completely scaleless; a deep body (depth at dorsal-fin origin 29-34% SL); 47-56 + 2-3 lateral-line scales; 13½-16½ branched anal-fin rays; number of total vertebrae 38-40, comprising 19-21 abdominal and 18-20 caudal vertebrae.

Alburnoides diclensis (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae), a new species of cyprinid fish from the upper Tigris River, Turkey

Alburnoides diclensis sp. n. is described from the Tigris River drainages (Persian Gulf basin) in southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. It is distinguished by a combination of the following characters (none unique to the species): a poorly developed ventral keel between pelvic and anal fins, completely scaled or rarely without one scale in front of anus; head short (length 24-27% SL), its upper profile markedly convex on level of nostril; mouth terminal, with marked chin; lips equal to or upper lip slightly longer than lower lip; snout with rounded tip, its length equal to or greater than eye diameter but smaller than interorbital distance; body moderately deep (depth at dorsal-fin origin 25-30% SL); anal-fin depth 1.2-1.4, mean 1.3 times in HL; 48-53 lateral-line scales, 12½-15½ branched anal-fin rays; 41-42 total vertebrae, comprising 20-21 abdominal and 20-21 caudal vertebrae.

A new species of Pseudophoxinus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Southwestern Anatolia, Turkey.

Pseudophoxinus mehmeti, new cyprinid species from the Alanköy basin in south-western Turkey, is distinguished from all species of Pseudophoxinus in adjacent regions by the combination of the following characters: body slender, its length 1.3-1.5 times its depth; caudal peduncle length 1.6-2.0 times its depth; mouth almost superior, with the tip of the mouth-cleft approximately level with the middle of the pupil; snout with a pointed tip, its length markedly greater than eye diameter; lateral line not complete, with 30-50 perforated scales and 48-60+2 scale rows in lateral series; 11½-13½ scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 3½-5½ scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin; dorsal-fin with 6½-7½ branched rays; anal-fin with 6½-7½ branched rays; a distinct black epidermal stripe from eye to caudal-fin base in preserved individuals.

The phylogenetic position of Turkish populations within the European Bitterling, Rhodeus amarus (Osteichthyes: Cyprinidae)

The partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1047 bp) was analysed in order to clarify the phylogenetic position of Turkish populations within the European Bitterling, Rhodeus amarus. 17 haplotypes were identified from the 57 individuals representing 4 different localities in Thrace Region, the south Marmara basin and the north-central Black Sea coast of Anatolia. Median-joining network and phylogenetic trees (MP, ML, and BI) revealed that Turkish haplotypes constitute a monophyletic unit containing three main haplogroups and accumulated with eastern lineages of the European Bitterling. The results presented in this study suggest that Anatolian haplotypes should be exhaustively evaluated at the lineage level and related to the three separate Anatolian groups identified within the European Bitterling, which probably originated in the Middle Pleistocene.

Morphological variation in a common Turkish cyprinid,Squalius cephalus, across Turkish water catchment areas

Abstract Morphometric variability and differentiation in the common Turkish cyprinid Squalius cephalus was investigated across the water catchment areas of the Rivers Istranca (SW Black Sea), Kura (Caspian Sea), Koca (Sea of Marmara), Sakarya (S Black Sea), Çoruh (Black Sea coast in NE Turkey), Gediz (Aegean Sea), Seyhan (Mediterranean Sea) and Mimikhan (River Euphrates basin). Results of multivariate analyses of morphometric and meristic data confirmed a stable geographic differentiation. Analysed samples of S. cephalus from Turkey are separated into three groups with considerable gaps between some of the analysed samples. Contrary to previous results, multivariate analyses of standard morphometric indexes showed no morphological differentiation of analysed samples from Turkey, and hence, complete lack of clearly-defined, discrete taxa within S. cephalus from this region.

Generic assignment of Leuciscus kurui Bogutskaya from the upper Tigris drainage, and a replacement name for Alburnus kurui Mangit & Yerli (Teleostei: Leuciscidae)

The generic position of Leuciscus kurui Bogutskaya, 1995 is reviewed through a comparison of morphological and molecular characters (COI). The molecular data place L. kurui in Alburnus, close to Alburnus timarensis from the Lake Van basin. Alburnus kurui (Bogutskaya) is distinguished from this species by lacking a ventral keel and possessing both a very low number of gill rakers and midlateral scales. Alburnus selcuklui, from the upper Tigris drainage, cannot be distinguished from the widespread A. sellal and is therefore treated as a synonym of this species. Alburnus kurui Mangit Yerli, 2018 is a junior secondary homonym of A. kurui (Bogutskaya, 1995) and A. carianorum is proposed as its replacement name. Several specimens of Alburnus caeruleus and Alburnus heckeli shared the same haplotypes as some A. sellal and therefore these species cannot always be distinguished by mitochondrial molecular characters. Alburnus caeruleus and A. heckeli are treated as valid species. Other individuals of A. caeruleus have haplotypes very different from A. sellal, and A. heckeli is well distinguished from A. sellal by having more gill rakers. The Lake Van basin as a separate freshwater ecoregion and the treatment of several species of Alburnus in synonymy of A. mento are discussed.

Barbus anatolicus , a new barbel from the Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak River drainages in northern Anatolia (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Barbus anatolicus, new species, is described from the Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak River drainages in the southern Black Sea basin. It is distinguished from other Barbus species in the Middle East by having 58-71 total lateral line scales, a moderately ossified last simple dorsal-fin ray, serrated along about 70-80% of its posterior margin, many small irregular shaped black or brown spots, smaller or as large as scales, often forming large, dark-brown blotches on the head, back and flank in adults and juveniles, and a concave posterior dorsal-fin margin. In addition, DNA barcode data reject the hypothesis that it belongs to one of the other species of the B. barbus species group. Barbus bergi from Bulgaria and adjacent Turkey is treated as synonym of B. tauricus. Barbus tauricus was previously believed to be restricted to the Crimean Peninsula but is found to be widespread in the Black Sea basin.