Squalius carinus

Common name. Işıklı chub.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Squalius in Western and Central Anatolia by: ● dark-brown pigmentation in life / ○ lower lip projecting beyond tip of upper lip (equal to tip of upper lip in few individuals) / ○ uppermost point of mouth cleft about at level between middle of eye and lower margin of pupil / ○ upper head profile straight / ○ snout conical and pointed / ○ interorbital area straight or slightly convex / ○ 39–43+2–3 lateral-line scales / ○ belly between anus and posterior extremity of pelvic base distinctly compressed / ○ dorsal origin above vertical of pelvic base / ○ anal orange, membranes hyaline, rays blackish in life / ○ a dark-brown or grey spot on scale pockets on flank / ○ dark-brown stripes along upper and lower edge of exposed part of scales / ○ predorsal length 53–57 % SL / ○ head length 27–29 % SL / ● head depth at eye 46–50 % HL / ○ interorbital distance 30–38 % HL. Size up to 260 mm SL.

Distribution . Türkiye: Lake Işıklı basin.

Habitat . Streams, springs, and Lake Işıklı itself, from where they migrate to streams to spawn.

Biology. Lives up to 5 years.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range.

Remarks. Molecular data suggest that this species is conspecific with S. fellowesii . As S. carinus is well differentiated by morphological characters, it could be advised that it represents a young species adapted to the environment of Lake Işıklı or has been introgressed by mtDNA of S. fellowesii . Further research may also show that S. carinus is a synonym of S. fellowesii .

Further reading. Özuluğ & Freyhof 2011 (description).