Ladigesocypris ghigii

Common name. Ghizani.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from superficially similar Petroleuciscus smyrnaeus in southwestern Anatolia by: ● lateral line incomplete, perforating 5–11 scales / ● 27–33 total scales in midlateral row / ● broad grey or black midlateral stripe from head to caudal base, separating dark-brown back from white belly. Size up to 65 mm SL in male, 90 mm SL in female.

Distribution. Türkiye: Isolated populations around Marmaris, Lake Köyceğiz and in lower Dalaman drainage. Greece: Widespread on island of Rhodes, locally introduced near Athens.

Habitat. Springs and slow-flowing stretches of streams.

Biology. Lives up to 3 years. First spawns at 1 year. Spawns February–June. Fractional spawner among aquatic vegetation, especially filamentous algae. Eggs sticky, 1.3 mm in diameter, hatch in 4 days. Larvae along banks, often among vegetation. Feeds on small invertebrates and algae, in summer, mainly on plant material. Large numbers of juveniles and adults die each year during summer and autumn droughts.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Bogutskaya 1996 (description); Stoumboudi et al. 2002 (reproduction, conservation); 2006 (conservation); Kottelat & Freyhof 2007 (biology, distribution).