Squalius carinus

Common name. Işıklı chub.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Squalius in Western and Central Anatolia by: ● dark-brown pigmentation in life / ○ lower lip projecting beyond tip of upper lip (equal to tip of upper lip in few individuals) / ○ uppermost point of mouth cleft about at level between middle of eye and lower margin of pupil / ○ upper head profile straight / ○ snout conical and pointed / ○ interorbital area straight or slightly convex / ○ 39–43+2–3 lateral-line scales / ○ belly between anus and posterior extremity of pelvic base distinctly compressed / ○ dorsal origin above vertical of pelvic base / ○ anal orange, membranes hyaline, rays blackish in life / ○ a dark-brown or grey spot on scale pockets on flank / ○ dark-brown stripes along upper and lower edge of exposed part of scales / ○ predorsal length 53–57 % SL / ○ head length 27–29 % SL / ● head depth at eye 46–50 % HL / ○ interorbital distance 30–38 % HL. Size up to 260 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Lake Işıklı basin.

Habitat. Streams, springs, and Lake Işıklı itself, from where they migrate to streams to spawn.

Biology. Lives up to 5 years.

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

Remarks. Molecular data suggest that this species is conspecific with S. fellowesii. As S. carinus is well differentiated by morphological characters, it could be advised that it represents a young species adapted to the environment of Lake Işıklı or has been introgressed by mtDNA of S. fellowesii. Further research may also show that S. carinus is a synonym of S. fellowesii.

Further reading. Özuluğ & Freyhof 2011 (description).