Anatolichthys anatoliae (Leidenfrost, 1912)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 701-703

Anatolichthys anatoliae

Common name. Lake Tuz killifish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Anatolichthys by: ○ male usually with grey or whitish dorsal base and a black mid-dorsal band and a hyaline or grey distal dorsal margin / ○ except base, dorsal completely black in some populations / ○ body shape ovoid / ○ male with 8–10 wide, regularly set, yellowish dark-bars / ○ third-last bar anterior to caudal base 2.1–4.3 times wider

Anatolichthys anatoliae ; Lake Meyil, Türkiye; female, 43 mm SL. Anatolichthys anatoliae ; Lake Meyil, Türkiye; male, 40 mm SL.

than anterior white interspace / ○ male with yellow anal with narrow black margin / ○ male with 1–4 bold black vertical bars on caudal / ○ male with flank bars in front of dorsal origin wider than interspaces / ○ male with dark-brown bars on caudal peduncle being 0.3–1.8 times as wide as interspaces / ○ female with numerous black spots or blotches on flank not organised in bars or a midlateral row / ○ body completely covered with overlapping scales. Size up to about 45 mm SL.

Distribution. Lakes Tuz, Beyşehir, and Suğla basins, around

Konya and eastward to Niğde.

Habitat. Springs and streams with dense underwater veg-

etation.

Biology. Live up to 4 years; biology as described in genus

section.

Conservation status. VU; habitats have been lost continu-

ously for many years.

Remarks. Aphanius lykaoniensis , A. venustus , A. flaviana-

lis, A. obrukensis and A. aksaranus are synonyms.

Further reading. Wildekamp et al. 1999 (distribution);

Yoğurtçuoğlu & Freyhof 2018 (distribution, identification).

Vanishing Lake Tuz. Lake Tuz in Central Anatolia was once the second-largest lake in Türkiye. It was a popular destination for flamingos, who flocked there to feed and nest. People also visited to witness the lake’s seasonal colour changes and to bathe in the mineral-rich water, mud, and salt. Lake Tuz is fed by groundwater that originates in the Northern Taurus and passes through the Konya Plain and Obruk Plateau, which bubbles up into Lake Tuz via springs. Other water sources include two major streams and rain that primarily falls in springtime. Water in the region has become increasingly scarce, with more frequent and intense droughts. The region is a significant climate change hotspot, warming more than the global average since the pre-industrial period. Before 2000, Lake Tuz generally contained sufficient water in August to be considered permanent. From 1985 through 2000, the lake’s water level exceeded 20 % of the current shoreline in all years except 1992 and 1994. During the most humid years, 1988 and 1996, the lake reached its fullest extent, with 93 % and 58 % of the lake covered by water, respectively. Notwithstanding the drought conditions that prevailed in 1992, water still managed to cover 16 % of the lakebed. However, a distinct shift occurred after the year 2000. Between 2001 and 2016, water spanned less than 20 % of the lake every August (except for 2015) as droughts became more frequent and intense. In 2008 and 2016, the lake completely dried up. Research indicates that an extraordinary meteorological drought has devastated Lake Tuz since 2019. In July 2021, the lake’s water levels were at an all-time low, resulting in the mass death of flamingos. The decline of Lake Tuz coincided with the excessive use of groundwater and surface-water resources, which were used to irrigate agriculture and meet the water needs of the surrounding provinces. Furthermore, as surface water dwindled during the intense drought, people turned to the groundwater that historically fed the springs. In the event of further drought conditions, water extraction will likely continue at current levels, resulting in the disappearance of lakes, springs, and streams in Central Anatolia. Further reading. Aydın et al. 2020 (Lake Tuz); MedECC 2020 (climate change in Mediterranean).

Anatolichthys danfordii ; Soysallı, Türkiye; female, 43 mm SL.

Anatolichthys danfordii ; Soysallı, Türkiye; male, 38 mm SL.