Salmo opimus, Turan, Kottelat & Engin, 2012

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 645-646

Salmo opimus

Common name. Alara trout.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Salmo in Mediterranean basin by: ● predorsal area slightly convex in individuals larger 170 mm SL / ○ four broad, dark-brown or grey bands on flank / ○ 10–12 parr marks distinct even in

Salmo opimus ; Alara drainage, Türkiye; 270 mm TL. © J. SchÖffmann.

the largest size / ○ one black spot behind eye / ○ 0–5 black spots on opercle, usually 2–3 (smaller than pupil) / ○ 0–50 black spots on flank, smaller than pupil, irregularly shaped, located mostly on anterior, upper part of flank, also on back and below lateral line in some individuals / ○ red spots few, small, irregularly shaped / ○ a large (lager than eye pupil) white ring around red spots / ○ red spots present on flank in individuals of all size groups / ○ maxilla short, maxilla, and lower lip not fleshly / ○ maxilla and supramaxilla wide (depth of upper jaw 2.6–3.2 times in length of maxilla) / ○ adipose larger in male than that in female / ○ 112–120 lateral-line scales counted until end of hypural complex / ○ 24–26 scale rows between dorsal origin and lateral line / ○ 16–18 scale rows between anal origin and lateral line /

Salmo platycephalus ; Zamanti, Seyhan drainage, Türkiye; 240 mm SL.

○ 13–15 scale rows between adipose origin and lateral line / ○ 22–23 gill rakers. Size up to 270 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Alara, a coastal Mediterranean drainage.

Habitat. Headwater streams, usually spring-fed, with cold, clear water and moderate currents, with gravel and pebble beds.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. VU; believed to decline due to many threats in its small range.

Remarks. Was thought to be widespread in Ceyhan, but all these populations have recently been identified as S. chilo . Further reading. Alp et al. 2003 (spawning time); Turan et al. 2012b (description).