Capoeta ekmekciae Turan, Kottelat, Kirankaya and Engin 2006

Roman, A., Afanasyev, S., Golub, O. & Lietytska, O., 2022, Capoeta Svanetica (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), A New Species From The Luchunis River (Rioni River Drainage) In Georgia, Zoodiversity 56 (2), pp. 117-134 : 131

Capoeta ekmekciae Turan, Kottelat, Kirankaya and Engin 2006

Types. Holotype. ESFM-PISI/2004-076, 203, 203 mm SL. Paratypes. ESFM-PISI/2004-077, 4, 150– 209 mm SL (after Turan et al., 2006 a).

T y p e L o c a l i t y. Chorokh River.

Diagnosis. Meristic characters: D: III–IV 8–9 (8.1), P: I 16-20, V: I 12, A: III 5½, lateral line: 55–61 (57.5), scales number above/below lateral line: 9–10 (9.4)/6–7 (6.8).

C. ekmekciae is well distinguished from other Capoeta species of East and South-East Black Sea rivers ( C. svanetica sp. n., C. sieboldi , C. oguzelii , C. banarescui , C. baliki , C. ekmekciae and also from C. tinca of the Sea of Marmara basin) by the combination of characters. Only one pair of barbels is present, 55–61 lateral line scales and the keratinized edge of the lower lip ( C. sieboldi and C. oguzelii have only one pair, but first also had fringed lower lip and the second had lower lip without keratinized edge and 72–82 scales in lateral line). Based on other meristic features C. ekmekciae is more similar to the Aral-Caspian group (tables 1–4). This group, known as large scales, is well distinguished by fewer scales number in lateral line (less than 61), fewer scales rows above the lateral line and below lateral it but higher gill rakes number.

D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d s o m e t a x o n o m i c r e m a r k s. Based on the phylogenetic relationship of Capoeta species using COI and cytb sequences was shown ( Zareian et al., 2016; 2018) that C. ekmekciae belongs to the Capoeta capoeta complex (Aralo-Caspian group). This data is based on one sample analysis with an unknown locality. Capoeta capoeta complex includes species characterized by large scales, their fewer number in lateral lines (fewer than 64), absence of irregular black spots on the dorsal half of the body, and by only one pair of barbels. Our comparison (tables 1–4) shows it well similar to this group species. But, based on all known data ( Baycelebi et al., 2015; Zareian et al., 2016; 2018; Elp et al., 2018 and others) including the first description ( Turan et al., 2006 a) C. ekmekciae is known only from the lower Chorokh River near Borcka and Cavuslu (Black Sea basin). Thus, this species recent distribution needs to be reviewed.