Squalius agdamicus

Common name. Kura chub.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Squalius in Caspian basin by: ○ anal yellowish, pale-orange or hyaline in life / ○ few or without black pigments in anal in preserved individuals / ○ 43–46+1–2 lateral-line scales / ○ 7–11 gill rakers / ○ posteriormost point at tip of anal at 3 rd or 5 th branched ray / ○ mouth terminal or subterminal in adults / ○ head length 24–28 % SL / ○ eye diameter 18–23 % HL / ○ 8½, very rarely 9½ branched anal rays / ○ anal height 17–19 % SL. Size up to 220 mm SL, likely to grow larger.

Distribution . Caspian basin: Kura drainage.

Habitat. Fast-flowing streams with cobble and gravel bottoms.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Molecular characters well differentiate chubs from the Kura and Aras. The species from the Kura is identified as S. agdamicus, and that from the Aras is S. turcicus, but their morphological characters still need to be studied better.

Further reading. Bayçelebi 2019 (description).