Salmo araxensis, Turan, Kottelat & Kaya, 2022

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 628-629

Salmo araxensis

Common name. Aras trout.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Salmo in Caspian basin by: ○ background colour of flank greyish to brownish in life / ○ few black spots scattered on back and upper part of flank, often ocellated with a roundish narrow white ring / ○ 21–22 gill rakers / ○ 103–114 lateral-line scales / ○ 10–13 parr marks, distinct up to about 130 mm SL / ○ adipose not reaching base of caudal in male larger than 200 mm SL / ○ no dark band on flank. Size up to 276 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Kırkpınar, Alacasu, Porsuklu, and İncilipınar in upper Aras drainage.

Habitat. Headwaters with clear and fast-flowing water, with stone and gravel bottoms.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. This species is likely conspecific with S. caspius ; see the discussion there. More research is needed to resolve

the case of Kura and Aras trout, all of which (except Lake Sevan trout) are likely to be conspecific.

Further reading. Turan et al. 2022b (description).

Salmo ardahanensis ; Kura drainage, Türkiye; 222 mm TL.