Anatolichthys meridionalis (Aksiray, 1948)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 710-712

Anatolichthys meridionalis

Common name. Lycian killifish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Anatolichthys by: ● male with 6–8 dark-brown bars on flank / ● male with flank bars behind dorsal origin narrower than interspaces / ○ adult male with completely black dorsal or with brown base / ○ body shape ovoid / ○ male with bright yellow anal with narrow black margin / ○ male with 1–4 bold black vertical bars on caudal / ○ female with numerous black spots or blotches on flank often organised in midlateral rows / ○ body completely covered with overlapping scales. Size up to 55 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Upper Eşen drainage and Lake Söğüt, Avlan, and Gölhisar basins. Also in a small reservoir in Lake Salda basin (potentially introduced).

Habitat. River and stream margins, lakeshores, springs, and spring-fed canals and streams.

Biology. Live up to 4 years, mature at age I; spawns July- September.

Conservation status. VU; found in fewer than 10 independent populations, some of which are declining.

Remarks. Anatolichthys parvus , from small streams near Lake Gölhisar, is a synonym.

Further reading. Akşıray 1948 (description); Yoğurtçuoğlu & Freyhof 2018 (identification); Güçlü 2022 (biology).

Anatolichthys meridionalis ; SÖğüt, Türkiye; male, 33 mm SL. Lake Salda in Türkiye is the only habitat of Anatolichthys saldae .

Anatolichthys saldae ; Salda, Türkiye; female, ~ 50 mm SL.

Anatolichthys saldae ; Salda, Türkiye; male, ~ 40 mm SL.