Alburnoides velioglui, Turan, Davut, Kaya, Cüneyt, Ekmekçi, F. Güler & Doğan, Esra, 2014

Turan, Davut, Kaya, Cüneyt, Ekmekçi, F. Güler & Doğan, Esra, 2014, Three new species of Alburnoides (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Euphrates River, Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, Zootaxa 3754 (2), pp. 101-116 : 106-108

Alburnoides velioglui , sp. n.

( Fig. 3 )

Holotype. FFR 0 1094, male, 79 mm SL; Turkey: Erzurum Prov.: Sırlı Stream, Euphrates River drainage; 40°12’34’’N, 41°04’00’’E, coll. D. Turan, Y. Saral and M. Çelik, 17 Apr. 2004.

Paratypes. FFR 0 1043, 15, 52–88 mm SL; same data as holotype. – FFR 0 1036, 8, 30–83 mm SL; Turkey: Erzurum Prov.: Toprakkale Stream, Euphrates River drainage; D. Turan, Y. Saral and M. Çelik, 0 3 Aug. 2007. – FFR 0 1106, 20, 51–88 mm SL; Turkey: Malatya Prov.: Sultansuyu Stream, Euphrates River drainage; D. Turan, E. Doğan and C. Kaya, 19 Oct. 2013.

Additional material (non types). FFR 0 1105, 7, 50–69 mm SL; Turkey: Erzurum Prov.: Karasu Stream, Euphrates River drainage; D. Turan, C. Kaya and E. Doğan, 8 Aug. 2013. – FFR 0 1096, 5, 58–67 mm SL; Turkey: Sivas Prov.: Divriği Stream, Euphrates River drainage; D. Turan, C. Kaya and E. Doğan, 10 Aug. 2013. – FFR 0 1029, 2, 67–85 mm SL; Turkey: Tunceli Prov.: Munzur Stream, Euphrates River drainage; D. Turan, Y. Saral and M. Çelik, 12 Aug. 2013.

Diagnosis. Alburnoides velioglui is distinguished from all species of Alburnoides in Turkey and adjacent waters by the following combination of characters (none unique to the species): a poorly developed ventral keel between pelvic and anal fins, completely scaled; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 24–29% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 10–12% SL and 1.9–2.2 times in its length; predorsal length 48–55% SL; mouth terminal, the tip of the mouth cleft between level of lower margin of pupil and lower margin of eye; the tip of upper lip not projecting beyond the lower lip (tip of both lips are equal) in most specimens; snout with rounded tip; dark grey stripe distinct on anterior and posterior parts of body; pigmentation of lateral-line distinct ( Fig. 3 ); 45–53 + 1–2 lateral-line scales, 9–11 scale rows between lateral-line and dorsal-fin origin, 4–5 scale rows between lateral-line and anal-fin origin, 11½–13½ branched anal-fin rays; pharyngeal teeth 5.1–2.4 or 5.2–2.4, markedly hooked; number of total vertebrae 41–42 with mode of 42 (including 4 Weberian vertebrae and last complex centrum), comprising 20–22 with mode of 21 abdominal, and 20–21 with mode of 21 caudal vertebrae.

Description. General appearance is shown in Figure 3 ; morphometric and meristic data are given in Tables 1 and 2. Body moderately deep and slightly compressed laterally. Caudal-peduncle depth 1.9–2.2 times in its length. Dorsal profile slightly convex, ventral profile equal or less convex than dorsal profile. Predorsal length 1.8–2.1 times in SL. Prepelvic length 2.0–2.2 times in SL. Head short, approximately 0.9–1.0 times body depth at dorsal fin origin, dorsal profile slightly convex at interorbital area, markedly convex at snout. Snout somewhat short, with rounded tip, approximately equal to eye diameter and smaller than interorbital width. Mouth terminal, with slightly marked chin. The tip of the mouth cleft approximately on level of lower margin of pupil or slightly below. The ventral keel poorly developed, completely scaled.

Lateral-line with 46 (1), 47 (3), 48 (5), 49 (6), 50 (5), 51 (1), 52 (1), 53 (2) or 55 (1) scales; 9 (4), 10 (15) or 11 (6) scales rows between lateral-line and dorsal-fin origin; 4 (10) or 5 (15) scales between lateral-line and anal-fin origin. Gill rakers 1–2 + 3–4 = 5–6 on first gill arch. Dorsal fin with 3 simple and 8½ (22) and 9½ (3) branched rays, outer margin straight or slightly convex, its origin in front of vertical at mid-point of pelvic-anal distance. Pectoral fin short, not reaching pelvic-fin origin, outer margin convex, with 1 simple and 12 (1), 13 (9) or 14 (15) branched rays. Pelvic-fin short, not reaching the origin of anal-fin but reaching anus, with 1 simple and 7 branched rays, outer margin convex. Anal fin slender, with 3 simple and 11½ (7), 12½ (16) or 13 (2) branched rays, outer margin slightly concave posteriorly. Caudal-fin moderately forked, lobes slightly rounded.

Pharyngeal teeth 5.1–2.4 or 5.2–2.4, markedly hooked. Number of total vertebrae 41 (2) or 42 (18); predorsal vertebrae 13 (8), 14 (11) or 15 (1); number of abdominal vertebrae 20 (2), 21 (13) or 22 (5), and that of caudal vertebrae 20 (4) or 21 (16); the abdominal region equal or longer than the caudal region, and the difference between the abdominal and caudal numbers varies from +2 to –1; vertebral formulae 22+20 (4), 21+21 (14) or 20+21 (2). Its maximum known size is 88 mm SL.

Sexual dimorphism. There are small tubercles on membrane of anal and pelvic fins in males. The length of the paired fins does not show a statistically significant difference between males and females as it often does in other Alburnoides species.

Coloration. Formalin-preserved adults and juveniles brownish on back and upper part of flank, light brownish on lower part of flank and belly. Caudal and dorsal fins light grey; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins yellowish. Pigmentation of lateral-line is distinct on both anterior and posterior parts of body. There is a narrow dark grey stripe (its width smaller than eye diameter) on upper part of flank from posterior margin of

operculum to caudal peduncle, distinct anteriorly and posteriorly.

Distribution and notes on biology. Alburnoides velioglui is known only from the northern Euphrates drainage (Sırlı and Toprakkale streams [drainages of Karasu] and Karasu Stream]) ( Fig. 1 ). It inhabits swift and clear flowing water with cobble and pebbles. Capoeta umbla ( Heckel, 1843) ; Barbus lacerta Heckel, 1843 ; Alburnus mossulensis Heckel, 1843 , Oxynoemacheilus sp., and Salmo sp. have been collected with A. velioglui .

Etymology. The species is named for Hasan Basri Velioğlu, Medical Doctor, who eased and contributed to our earlier and present studies by radiography.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of Alburnoides species in Anatolia: A. emineae (+), A. velioglui (□), A. recepi (), A. fasciatus (■), A. eichwaldii (x), A. manyasensis (∆), A. cf. smyrnae (▲) and A. tzanevi (O).

FIGURE 3. Alburnoides velioglui. Turkey: Erzurum Province: Sırlı Stream, Euphrates River drainage, holotype, FFR 0 1094, male, 79 mm SL.