Anatolichthys transgrediens (Ermin, 1946)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 715-716

Anatolichthys transgrediens

Common name. Acıgöl killifish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Anatolichthys by: ○ scales on back and belly usually absent / ○ usually 1–3 lines of large, not or only slightly overlapping scales on midlateral flank / ○ lateral head profile triangular or rounded, lower jaw small, directing forward / ○ body depth 3.2–4.2 times in standard length / ○ caudal peduncle depth 16–18 % SL / ○ head depth at nape 68–75 % SL / ○ head width at nape 62–74 % SL / ○ nuptial male with completely black dorsal / ○ male with white anal and wide, black margin or anal completely black. Size up to 40 mm SL.

Anatolichthys transgrediens ; AcıgÖl, Türkiye; male, 25 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Lake Acıgöl basin.

Habitat. Springs and small spring-fed streams. Also found in Acıgöl when there is sufficient water.

Biology. Live up to 2 years, mature with 5-7 months. Spawns February to May and again July to August in channals of brine ponds. Several males gather to chase females during spawning. Few eggs are laid on vegetation during a spawning event. Feeds on benthos and detritus in Gambusia dominated springs, otherwise insect larvae, zooplankton and plant material.

Conservation status. CR; once abundant in Acıgöl and its tributaries. Now, only in one spring field. Springs on western, eastern and northern shores of Acıgöl have dried up. In late 20 th century, it was reported to be more abundant, and the last spring field was much larger.

Remarks. There is a large variation in scale reduction in A. transgrediens .

Further reading. Ermin 1946 (description); Yoğurtçuoğlu & Freyhof 2018 (identification); Yoğurtçuoğlu et al. 2020c (reproduction).

Spring-feed streams running to hypersaline Lake AcigÖl in Türkiye are the habitat of Anatolichthys transgrediens . Anatolichthys villwocki ; Sakarya drainage, Türkiye; female, 35 mm SL. Anatolichthys villwocki ; Sakarya drainage, Türkiye; male, 40 mm SL.