Gobio maeandricus

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 261-263

Gobio maeandricus

Common name. Işıklı gudgeon.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Gobio in Anatolia by: ● 53–56 total lateral-line scales / ○ chest completely scaled, scales extending forward to, or almost to isthmus / ○ head length 27–29 % SL / ○ distance between anus and anal origin 7–8 % SL / ○ caudal-peduncle length 1.4–1.7 times in caudal-peduncle depth / ○ 10–12 scales between posterior extremity of pelvic base and anus / ○ 9–10 scale rows between dorsal origin and lateral line. Size up to 138 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Lake Işıklı basin in upper Büyük Menderes drainage and Karadirek near Sandıklı, an isolated basin that flows through underground to Lake Işıklı.

Remarks. In Europe, G. kovatschevi appears to have had some contact with Gobio from the Danube, as two different types of mtDNA are found in this species, indicating past introgressive hybridisation.

Further reading. Chichkoff 1937 (description); Kottelat & Freyhof 2007 (diagnosis).

Habitat. Slow to moderate-flowing streams with sandy and gravelly bottoms, often with very dense aquatic vegetation.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range.

Remarks. Extirpated Gobio populations from Lake Burdur basin may have belonged to this species.

Further reading. Naseka et al. 2006 (description); Güçlü et al. 2013 (distribution).

Pamukkale: Mass tourism is a significant feature of Türkiye’s tourism industry, contributing heavily to its economy.

Gobio microlepidotus ; Lake Beyşehir basin, Türkiye; 150 mm SL.