Acanthobrama telavivensis, Goren, Fishelson & Trewavas, 1973

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 280

Acanthobrama telavivensis

Common name. Yarkon bream.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Acanthobrama by: ○ pharyngeal teeth in one row / ○ 51−60 total lateral-line scales / ○ rigid part of last unbranched dorsal ray about 50−65 % of ray / ○ 12−17 gill rakers / ○ 7½, rarely 8½, branched dorsal rays / ○ 11−14½ branched anal rays / ○ ventral keel with a free skinfold not covered by scales along entire length. Size up to 95 mm SL.

Distribution. Israel: coastal streams Soreq, Yarkon, Tanninim, Daliya, and Na’aman, potentially also in Alexander, Poleg, and Hadera.

Acanthobrama thisbeae ; lower Ceyhan drainage, Türkiye; 174 mm SL.

Habitat. Streams and small lakes. Spawns on gravel or rocky substrates and submerged vegetation along banks in flowing and stagnant water.

Biology. Mature after 1 year if larger than 40 mm SL, usually live 4–5 years. Spawns February–April at water temperatures between 14 and 20°C. Individual female spawn twice during season. Young hatch after 7–10 days at 13–17°C, after 5–8 days at 18–23°C. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates and detritus.

Conservation status. LC; declined since 1950s due to pollution and water abstraction. A few days before last two streams dried up in 1999, about 150 fish were captured just before the last water disappeared. These individuals were bred in captivity, and reintroduction began in 2002. Following habitat modification, reintroductions have been successful since 2006, and several new populations have been established.

Further reading. Goren et al. 1973 (description); Elron et al. 2006 (biology); Goren 2009 (extinction, reintroduction).