Pseudophoxinus crassus (Ladiges, 1960)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 369-370

Pseudophoxinus crassus

Common name. Fat spring minnow.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Pseudophoxinus in Central Anatolia by: ○ 65–78+2–3 scales in lateral series / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray flexible and not thickened / ○ lateral line complete / ○ lateral line gradually reaching to lateral midline at caudal peduncle / ○ pelvic not reaching to anus / ○ 8–9 gill rakers / ○ 8–10½ scales between lateral line and pelvic origin / ○ pelvic axillary lobe absent / ○ no keel between posterior end of pelvic base and anus / ○ pelvic origin below dorsal origin / ○ upper lip projecting beyond tip of lower lip / ○ flank plain brown, grey or silvery without prominent stripe. Size up to 180 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Lake Tuz basin at Cihanbeyli, Lake Kozanlı and Samsam basins, springs south of Eşmekaya and near Aksaray and Niğde.

Habitat. Springs and spring-fed streams with clear water and dense vegetation.

Biology. Lives up to 7 years and spawns first with 1 (male) and 2 (female) years in April–May. Female seem to spawn only once a season.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range.

Remarks. Closely related to P. anatolicus .

Further reading. Ladiges 1960 (description); Bogutskaya 1992 (revision, distribution); Ekmekçi & Kırankaya 2010 (biology).

Pseudophoxinus drusensis ; Al Tammasiyyar, Syria; ~ 80 mm SL.