Alburnus kotschyi

Common name. Iskenderun bleak.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Alburnus in Mediterranean basin by: ○ prominent dark-brown mid-lateral stripe / ○ no mottling pattern on flank / ○ anal origin one scale behind last dorsal ray / ○ 9–11½ branched anal rays / ○ 49–59 total lateral line scales / ○ body depth at dorsal origin 21–26 % SL / ○ ventral keel exposed 3–10 scales in front of anus / ○ last simple dorsal ray soft / ○ pelvic axillary scales present / ○ scales on back, flank, and belly well developed, overlapping. Size up to 141 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Tarsus, Seyhan, and Ceyhan drainages and coastal streams flowing to Gulf of İskenderun north of Orontes.

Habitat. A wide range of moderately fast-flowing streams and rivers with gravel substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Alburnus kotschyi is often confused with A. adanensis, but both species can be easily distinguished.

Further reading. Steindachner 1863 (description); Freyhof et al. 2018a (description).