Alburnus tarichi

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 326-328

Alburnus tarichi

Common name. Tarek.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Alburnus in Persian Gulf, Qweiq, Lake Van, and Iranian endorheic basins by: ○ 69–88+3 lateral-line scales / ○ 21–29 gill rakers / ○ 10–12½ branched anal rays / ○ 11–15 scale rows between dorsal origin and lateral line / ○ 5–8 scale rows between lateral line and pelvic origin / ○ anal origin 0–4 scales behind last branched dorsal ray / ○ ventral keel scaleless or one scale behind pelvic base / ○ flank scales with grey margins or irregular set grey pigmentation / ○ mid-lateral stripe absent or very faint. Size up to 220 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Lake Van basin including Lakes Nazik and Aygır. Landlocked in Koçköprü reservoir (Zilan). Introduced to Lake Erçek in 1989.

Habitat. Lacustrine, usually feeding in open water. Swims up tributaries to spawn in Van and Erçek basins. Spawns on shores of Nazik and Aygır lakes.

Biology. Lives up to 8 years. Matures at 2 years. Spawns May–June.

Conservation status. LC; fisheries for this commercial species are well managed.

Remarks. Introduced to Lake Burdur (Central Anatolia) in 1966, where it became temporarily established but disappeared before the 1980s.

Further reading. Freyhof et al. 2018b (phylogeny); Atıcı et al. 2020 (diagnosis, distribution, introductions).

Migrating school of Alburnus tarichi © Saygun Dura.

Lake Van’s Tarek migration as living biocultural heritage. Every year, millions of tarek make an extraordinary journey across the waters of Lake Van basin in eastern Türkiye. This incredible migration is a unique survival strategy for the species, which has adapted to the high saline and alkaline waters of Lake Van. To spawn, tarek must leave these hostile conditions and migrate to the freshwater tributaries that feed into the lake, starting a challenging migration. Migration typically begins in April, triggered by rising temperatures and increased daylight. Adult tarek swim upstream into rivers and streams in search of suitable spawning grounds. Upon reaching their spawning grounds, tarek lay their eggs in gravel beds where oxygenated water flows continuously, providing optimal conditions for egg development. Interestingly, tarek has an impressive osmoregulatory capacity, which allows it to survive in the highly alkaline waters of Lake Van. Studies have shown that it has the highest osmolarity ever recorded for a fish species, at 550 mOsm/kg. The annual tarek migration has long been a major natural event in the region, attracting both locals and tourists who come to witness the collective movement of countless iridescent fish as they travel upstream. In this sense, tarek plays a significant role in the local economy, both by creating an eco-tourism potential and by accounting for almost 30 % of Türkiye’s total inland fisheries, which is the highest rate for freshwater fish catches. Historically, the importance of tarek has been documented in various records dating back to the 9th century. Local communities have relied on the fish for centuries, often salting and trading it, contributing to both the cultural and economic life of the region. The life history of the tarek is closely linked to the seasonal hydrology of its environment, which makes it highly sensitive to changes in the flow of the water and the quality of its habitat. Anthropogenic impacts such as dam construction, water pollution, habitat degradation and overfishing during vulnerable periods threaten populations and these spawning grounds. The story of the tarek migration is not only a fascinating biological phenomenon, but also a unique mass migration in West Asia. Further reading. Şen et al. 2015; Sarı 2008.

Alburnus timarensis ; Karasu, Van basin, Türkiye; ~ 120 mm SL. © M. Özuluğ