Aphanius danfordii (Boulenger, 1890)

Schulz-Mirbach, Tanja, Reichenbacher, Bettina, Yildirim, M. Zeki & Atalay, M. Altuğ, 2006, Otolith characteristics of species, subspecies, and populations of Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes) from Anatolia (Turkey), Journal of Natural History 40 (27 - 28), pp. 1687-1705 : 1697-1698

Aphanius danfordii (Boulenger, 1890)

( Figure 6 )

The otoliths of the populations considered here display a V-shaped ostium and a ventrally sloping cauda (otoliths from Karpuzatan, Kırşehir, Çernek) or a slightly dorsally curving cauda (otoliths from Soysallı); the posterior part of the cauda may be open or pointed. The sulcus may be covered by several small colliculi. Otoliths from Karpuzatan, Kırşehir, and Çernek are almost flat to slightly biconvex, except one pair of otoliths from Çernek, which is distinctly thickened in the middle portion of the outer face. The otoliths from Soysallı are partly flat, partly thickened in the posterior portion of the outer face.

Locality—Kızılırmak River: Karpuzatan at Kayseri (36 specimens) ( Figure 6a–e )

Description. (1) Outline: wide-triangular or (rarely) somewhat elongate-ovate (not figured); (2) excisura: U- or V-shaped, deeply incised; (3) rostrum: distinctly longer than the antirostrum, wide and rectangularly shaped; (4) antirostrum: prominent, mainly pointed; (5) dorsal rim: strongly convex, smooth; (6) posterior rim: slightly curved, almost vertically inclined, often with a distinct posteroventral edge; (7) ventral rim: straight; (8) crista superior and (9) crista inferior: both distinctly expressed but narrow.

Remark. One of the 36 pairs of otoliths shows differences between left and right sagitta. The sagittae in this pair display distinct differences with regard to overall outline: the right otolith corresponds to the description given above, while the left is characterized by an extremely elongated contour and pointed rostrum.

Locality—Kızılırmak River: Lake Çernek (three specimens) ( Figure 6o–q )

Description. (1) Outline: triangular to wide-triangular; (2) excisura: narrow or wide or Ushaped; it may be deeply incised; (3) rostrum: faintly pointed, distinctly longer than the antirostrum; (4) dorsal rim: convex; (5) posterior rim: sloping; (6) ventral rim: almost straight; (7) crista superior: well-developed; it reveals a distinct crystalline structure which also continues in the sulcus and the crista inferior.

Locality—Kızılırmak River: Kırşehir (four specimens) ( Figure 6r )

Description. (1) Outline: triangular to ovate; (2) excisura: V-shaped; (3) rostrum: distinctly longer than or as long as the antirostrum; both are more or less rounded; (4) dorsal rim and (5) posterior rim: both slightly curving; (6) ventral rim: almost straight; (7) crista superior: bulging. All rims may be crenulate ( Figure 6r ).

Locality—Soysallı at Kayseri in the Sultan Swamps (39 specimens) ( Figure 6f–n )

Description. (1) Outline: variable, triangular to wide-triangular to elongate-ovate; (2) excisura: variable, narrow or wide; (3) rostrum: distinctly longer than or rarely as long as the antirostrum; (4) dorsal rim: convex; (5) posterior rim: sloping or slightly curved; (6) ventral rim: straight or faintly convex; (7) crista superior: mostly distinct and thickened. Some specimens show crystalline structures in the area around the sulcus.

Remark. The otoliths from this locality are characterized by a high variability with regard to their general contour, shape, and strength of rostrum, and development of a posteroventral edge. Moreover, four pairs of otoliths show distinctly different left and right sagittae, especially concerning their general shape. In addition, one pair revealed an aberrant, overall crenulate contour.

Figures

Figure 6. Left sagittae of Aphanius danfordii. Localities: Karpuzatan/Kayseri (a–e), Soysallı (Sultan Swamps)/ Kayseri (f–n), Lake Çernek/Kızılırmak (o–q), Kırşehir/Kızılırmak (r). (a–e, l–n, q, r) Males; (f–k, o, p) females.