Salmo cf. ciscaucasicus Dorofeeva, 1967

Kaya, Cueneyt, Baycelebi, Esra & Turan, Davut, 2020, Taxonomic assessment and distribution of fishes in upper Kura and Aras river drainages, Zoosystematics and Evolution 96 (2), pp. 325-344 : 325

Salmo cf. ciscaucasicus Dorofeeva, 1967 Fig. 8d

Common / local names.

Caucasian trout* / Kafkas alası *.

Examined material.

FFR 3229, Stream Keklik 6 km southeast of Sarıkamış, Aras drainage, 40.2955N, 42.6565E .

Distribution in the area.

Aras River drainage.

Remarks.

The species is morphologically similar to S. ciscaucasicus , however, more comparison materials from upper Aras and Keyranchay River (its type locality) are needed to clear the taxonomic position of Aras populations. For the first observation by limited samples identified here as Salmo cf. ciscaucasicus differ from S. caspius from Kura drainages by having a brownish general body color (vs. grayish), irregular black and red spots (vs. circular). On the other hand, the samples we obtained have grayish general body color, numerous black spots on the body, irregularly shaped, small to medium, maxilla reaching slightly beyond the eye, adipose-fin of moderate size, not reaching caudal-fin base. These features overlap with the original description of Dorofeyeva (1967) and the figure and description of Kottelat & Freyhof (2007). Therefore, we consider that species closely related to S. ciscaucasicus , and we encourage further research to clarify the trout taxonomy in the area.

Figures

Figure 8. Salmonid species collected in the area, a, Oncorhynchus mykiss from Lake Cildir, Aras; b, Salmo caspius from stream Cataldere, Kura; c, Salmo aff. caspius from stream Incilipinar, Aras; d, Salmo cf. ciscaucasicus from stream Keklik, Aras.