Salmo ekmekciae, Küçük & Kalaycı & Güçlü & Oral & Turan, 2024

Kuecuek, Fahrettin, Kalayci, Goekhan, Gueclue, Salim Serkan, Oral, Muenevver & Turan, Davut, 2024, A new species of trout from the Koepruecay River, a drainage of Mediterranean Sea, Tuerkiye (Salmoniformes, Salmonidae), Zoosystematics and Evolution 100 (2), pp. 391-403 : 391

Salmo ekmekciae sp.nov

Type material.

Holotype. IFC ESUF 02-0029, holotype, 216 mm SL, male; Türkiye: Isparta prov.: Yayla Stream, a drainage of Köprüçay River, 37.8115°N, 31.0925°E.

Paratypes. IFC-ESUF 02-0022, 6, 70-150 mm SL; same data as holotype; FFR 3058, 4, 141-185 mm SL; Türkiye: Isparta prov.: Kartoz Stream ( Köprüçay River drainage), 37.7162°N, 31.1616°E.

Diagnosis.

Salmo ekmekciae is distinguished from all the species of Salmo in Türkiye and adjacent areas by combination of follow characters: one small black spot in postorbital and suborbital areas, greater than pupil; seven to seventeen black spots on opercle; black spots on body few or numerous, scattered on the back (missing in the predorsal area), a middle portion of flank, sometimes upper and lower halves of the flank. Red spots few, ocellated, organized in two or three irregular longitudinal rows on median part of the body, and half of lower part of the flank; commonly no black spots on flank in specimens larger than 160 mm SL, if red spots present in specimens larger than about 160 mm SL, they are almost covered with black dots; maxilla short and narrow; lateral line with 108-118 scales; 21-25 scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line; 16-18 scale rows between anal-fin origin and lateral line; 11-13 scale rows between origin of the adipose fin and lateral line. 22-24 gill rakers on outer side of first gill arch.

Description.

The general appearance is shown in Figs 2 - 4 , morphometric data are in Table 2 . Body moderately deep, compressed laterally, its maximum depth markedly smaller than head length. Dorsal profile slightly convex and ventral profile less convex than the dorsal profile. Head somewhat long, upper profile slightly convex in interorbital area, markedly convex in interorbital and on snout. Mouth small, slightly sub-terminal in males, sub-inferior in females. Tip of lower jaw slightly curved upwards, slightly pointed, with a slightly developed process at symphysis in males larger than 180 mm SL. Maxilla short, not reaching beyond posterior margin of the eye in males and females. Snout short, slightly rounded in males, rounded in females. Adipose fin somewhat large, its height 7-9% SL in males and about 7% SL in females, slightly increasing with body size. Largest observed specimen 185 mm SL.

Lateral line with 108-118 scales; 21-25 scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line; 16-18 scale rows between anal-fin origin and lateral line; 11-13 scale rows between origin of the adipose fin and lateral line. Dorsal fin with 9-10 branched and 3-4 unbranched rays, its distal margin straight or slightly convex. Pectoral fin with 1 unbranched and 11-13 branched rays, its external margin convex. Pelvic fin with 1 unbranched and 8 branched rays, its external margin slightly convex. Anal fin with 3 unbranched and 8 branched rays, its distal margin straight or slightly convex anteriorly and slightly concave posteriorly. Caudal fin slightly forked, lobes slightly pointed. 22-24 gill rakers on the outer side of first gill arch.

Coloration.

In formalin: General coloration of freshly preserved specimens silvery on back and flank, yellowish on the belly. Four broad dark bands on flank, without or very faintly marked in specimens smaller than approximately 160 mm SL. One small black spot in postorbital and suborbital areas, greater than pupil; seven to seventeen black spots on opercle, smaller than pupil. Black spots on body few or numerous (more than 70 in most specimens larger than about 160 mm SL), smaller than pupil, ocellated, scattered on the back (missing in the predorsal area), a middle portion of flank, sometimes over upper and lower halves of the flank. No black spot on top of the head. Red spots few (less than about 20), ocellated, organized in two or three irregular longitudinal rows on median part of the body, and half of lower part of the flank. Commonly no red spots on flank in specimens larger than 160 mm SL, if red spots present in specimens larger than about 160 mm SL, they are almost covered with black dots; dorsal fin grey, with three or five rows of black spots (smaller than pupil), and one or two rows of red spots (smaller than pupil) in specimens smaller than about 120 mm SL. Caudal fin grey or dark grey; pectoral, anal and pelvic fins grayish. Adipose-fin plain greyish. Nine or ten mostly vertically elongated parr marks on the body, distinct in specimens up to at least about 160 mm SL.

In life: General body colour silvery. Back and halves of upper part of flank silver, belly and halves of lower part of flank yellowish. All fins yellowish. A conspicuously black spots behind eye, smaller than pupil. Red spots few and with almost covered black pigment in specimens larger than about 160 mm SL, scattered on median part of the body, and half of lower part of the flank. Adipose-fin plain greyish, with very inconspicuous reddish margin. Nine or ten vertically elongated dark grey parr marks along middle part of flank.

Distribution.

Salmo ekmekciae inhabits clear and moderately swift-flowing water, with a substrate of stones and pebbles. It is only known from the Köprüçay River and its tributaries in Antalya-Isparta province (Fig. 5 ).

Sexual dimorphism.

The snout of the male is more pointed than that of the female. The length of the head, and the length of the maxilla of the male are slightly greater than those of the female counterparts.

Etymology.

The species is named for Dr. Fitnat Güler Ekmekçi ( Türkiye), ichthyologist, in appreciation of her contribution to literature.

Conservation status.

Salmo ekmekciae is only known from Köprüçay River, most probably endemic to that area. The species is threatened by overfishing similar to other Salmonids and there are rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) farms in the region.

Figures

Figure 2. Salmo ekmekciae, IFC ESUF 02 - 0029, holotype, 216 mm SL, male; Tuerkiye: Koepruecay River.

Figure 4. Salmo ekmekciae, IFC-ESUF 02 - 0022, paratype, 84 mm SL, juvenile; Tuerkiye: Koepruecay River.

Figure 5. Type localties of Salmo species in the Tuerkiye.