Iran. J. Ichthyol. (June 2014), 1(2): 96–105 Received: February 28, 2014 © 2014 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: June 10, 2014 E-ISSN: 2383-0964 ; P-ISSN: 2383-1561 doi: http://www.ichthyol.ir The systematic position of Acanthalburnus microlepis (De Filippi, 1863) and contributions to the genus Acanthobrama (Cyprinidae: Leuciscinae) in Turkey Fahrettin KÜÇÜK1*, Yusuf BEKTAŞ2, Salim Serkan GÜÇLÜ1, Cüneyt KAYA2 1Süleyman Demirel University, Eğirdir Fisheries Faculty, Eastern Campus, Isparta-Turkey 2Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Fisheries Faculty, Rize-Turkey Email: [email protected] Abstract: In this study, the systematic position of Acanthalburnus microlepis from Kura and Aras basins is clarified and some notes on the taxonomy of the Acanthobrama species distributed in Turkey are given. Based on the morphological and osteological analyses, a high similarity between A. microlepis and Acanthobrama members is found. Some taxonomic information yielded from the examination of recent collections from Dicle (Tigris), Fırat (Euphrates), Asi (Orontes), Ceyhan, Seyhan rivers and Berdan Stream near Tarsus is also included. Accordingly, Acanthobrama marmid is distributed only in Dicle-Fırat system (presumably also in Sinnap Stream from Kuveik Drainage) and the populations from Asi, Seyhan and Berdan Stream (Tarsus) regarded as a separate subspecies as A. marmid orontis Berg, 1949 should be considered full species according to phylogenetic species concept and Ceyhan population represents a new species. Keywords: Acanthalburnus, Acanthobrama, Inland water fishes of Turkey, Systematics. Introduction dorsal-fin ray. The following morphological features Taxonomy of the family Cyprinidae has always been are also characteristic for the genus: mouth oblique under debate among taxonomists. Based on or subterminal; caudal fin long and deeply notched; morphological characters, the family has been split lateral line complete, with 68-82 pored scales, 13-15 into 2 to 12 subfamilies according to various authors scales between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin, 6-8 (Chen et al. 1984; Bogutskaya 1997; Kottelat & scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin; Freyhof 2007). Most diverse of the family, the dorsal fin with 8½ branched rays; anal fin with 13- subfamily Leuciscinae from Europe and North 17½ branched rays; gill rakers stout and short, 10 gill America was even erected toArchive family level (Mayden rakers of on the firstSID branchial arch; pharyngeal teeth & Chen 2010). Subfamily Leuciscinae is known to be 2.5-5.2 or 2.5-4.2, not serrated, the largest may be represented by 54 species belonging to 17 genera in markedly serrated; a dark and wide stripe along Turkey (Bogutskaya 1997). Perea et al. (2010) lateral midline from eye to caudal-fin base; dorsal grouped 176 Circum-Mediterranean Leuciscinae and caudal fins black at tips. Distribution of the genus species into 14 main clades based on molecular is restricted to the Kura River drainage including its markers. tributary Aras, excluding the lower reaches of the The Leuciscinae genus Acanthalburnus Berg Kura, and Lake Orumiyeh (Urmia) basin (Coad 1916 was characterised by Berg (1949) as a 2014). It is mentioned as the only endemic genus of monotypic genus close to Alburnoides, differing the Kura drainage (Bogutskaya 1997). from the latter by the spine-like thickened last simple According to Esmaeili et al. (2010) and Coad 96 www.SID.ir Küçük et al.- The systematic position of Acanthalburnus and Acanthobrama in Turkey (2014), Acanthalburnus consists of two rather morphologically similar, but geographically isolated species, A. microlepis (De Filippi, 1863) and A. urmianus (Günther, 1899), in Iran. Durand et al. (2002) placed the genus among Abramis clade according to cytochrome b data, while Perea et al. (2010) proposed synonymy with Acanthobrama using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data. Based on the latter, Eschmeyer (2014) included Acanthalburnus microlepis in Acanthobrama. Fig.1. Distribution of the genus Acanthobrama species However, until now, no morphological study on in Turkey (*A. microlepis, ● A. marmid, ∆ A. orontis, ▲ Acanthobrama cf. marmid, +A. centisquama) validating this genus change has been presented. The genus Acanthobrama characterised by a end of the hypural complex. Scales on the caudal fin thickened and smooth last unbranched dorsal fin ray itself are indicated by “+” (Freyhof & Özuluğ 2009). and a naked ventral keel on the belly between the The last two branched dorsal and anal fin rays anus and the pelvic fins (Heckel, 1843). articulating on a single pterygiophore were counted Acanthalburnus microlepis share the same diagnostic as 1½. Vertebral counts were obtained from characters with the genus Acanthobrama. radiographs and counted as total, predorsal, Additionally, no recent study was conducted on the abdominal and caudal vertebrae following Naseka taxonomy of the genus Acananthobrama in Turkey. (1996). Abdominal vertebrae were counted from the Heckel (1843) described A. centisquama first Weberian vertebra to the one just anterior to the (Damascus), A. marmid (Kuveik), A. cupida first caudal vertebra. The first caudal vertebra is that (Kuveik) and A. arrhada (Dicle River, Tigris- with its haemal spine fully developed. The count of Euphrates drainage) and noted that A. centisquama total and caudal vertebrae includes the last complex could easily be identified by small scales (100 in the vertebra bearing hypurals. Osteological characters lateral line). The type locality of A. centisquama as were examined in cleared and stained with alizarin at Damascus given by Heckel (1843), is a labelling Red-S specimens and from radiographs (Bogutskaya error according to Coad (1984) as the species was 1996). confined to Asi River and Amik Lake only (Fig. 1). So, the aim of this study is to clarify the taxonomy of Abbreviations: SL, standard length. D, dorsal fin these two genera in Turkey, based on their rays. A, anal fin rays. P, pectoral fin rays. V, pelvic morphology. fin rays. C, caudal fin rays. L.L., lateral line. Sq, Archivelateral of series. IFCSID-ESUF, Inland Fishes Collection, Material and Methods Eğirdir Fisheries Faculty of Süleyman Demirel Fish specimens were caught by pulsed DC University, Turkey. electrofishing equipment and killed by over anaesthetization, preserved in 5% formalin. Material Comparative material (all from Turkey) is deposited in: IFC-ESUF, Inland Fishes Collection, A. marmid: IFC-ESUF 03-0158, 10, 101.46-122.78 Eğirdir Fisheries Faculty of Süleyman Demirel mm SL, Diyarbakır prov., Yenişehir country: Dicle University. Counts followed Kottelat and Freyhof River, C. Kaya, F. Kaya, 17 September 2010. (2007). Lateral line scales were counted from the first A. marmid: IFC-ESUF 03-0155, 8, 95.25-145.34 mm one to touch the shoulder girdle to the last scale at the SL, Muş prov.: Fırat River drainage, Murat Suyu 97 www.SID.ir Iranian Journal of Ichthyology (June 2014), 1(2): 96-105 Fig.2. Acanthobrama microlepis IFC-ESUF 03.0153, 141.6 mm SL, Akçalar Stream-Aras River. Stream, C. Kaya, F. Kaya, 13 August 2012. and the pelvic fins (vs. slightly developed) which are Acanthobrama cf. marmid: IFC-ESUF 03-0151, 5, lacking in A. mirabilis. 156.47-184.11 mm SL, Kahramanmaraş prov.: Ceyhan River drainage, Sır Dam Lake, F. Küçük, S. Description and taxonomic features of the genus S. Güçlü, 03 November 2012. Acanthalburnus Berg, 1916: The genus is A. marmid: IFC-ESUF 03-0152, 37, 61.36-120.35 represented only by a single species, Acanthalburnus mm SL, Kilis prov.: Kuveik River drainage, Sinnap microlepis, according to Berg (1949). The Stream, F. Küçük, D. Turan, S. S. Güçlü, M. Kamer, morphological and osteological features are given C. Kaya, 04 November 2012 and 26 June 2013. below. Body distinctly laterally compressed and A. microlepis: IFC-ESUF 03-0153, 33, 49.76-152.17 deep, with prominent keel before dorsal-fin. Mouth mm SL, Kars prov., Arpaçay village: Aras River small, oblique or subterminal. Predorsal region drainage, Akçalar Stream, F. Küçük, C. Kaya, A. slanted towards nape, snout rounded. Scales Küçük, 03 June 2013. regularly arranged on body (Fig. 2). Fleshy and deep A. orontis: IFC-ESUF 03-0154, 14, 90.61-149.78 scaleless keel present between anus and pelvic-fin, mm SL, Adana prov.: Seyhan River drainage, Seyhan decreasing in depth in its anterior part. Pelvic-fin Dam Lake, F. Küçük, D. Turan, S. S. Güçlü, 27 June long, its origin clearly in front of dorsal-fin origin, 2012. pelvic axillary long. Dorsal and anal fins outer A. orontis: IFC-ESUF 03-0156, 12, 116.5-156.76 margins concave, black banded at tip. Caudal fin very mm SL, Mersin prov.: Berdan River drainage, F. deeply forked and lobes pointed at the tip. Lateral line Küçük, 10 November 2013. complete, with 70 (1), 75 (2), 76 (2), 77 (5), 78 (5), Archive81 (2)of and 83 (1)+1SID-3 perforated scales and 70 (1), 73 Results (2), 74 (2), 75 (4), 76 (2), 77 (3), 78 (1), 79 (1), 80 (2) Contributions to Acanthobrama species distributed in and 83 (1)+1-3 scales in lateral series. Dorsal-fin with Turkey: Perea et al. (2010) suggested that 3 simple and 8½ branched rays; anal fin with 3 simple Acanthobrama mirabilis Ladiges, 1960 (type locality and 14 (1), 15 (12), 16 (7)½ branched rays; pectoral was Büyük Menderes drainage) was synonym of fin with 13 (1), 14 (18) and 15 (1) and pelvic fin with Vimba mirabilis (Ladiges 1960). We are supporting 7 (2), 8 (18) branched rays; 10 (3), 11 (17) gill rakers Perea et al. (2010), because the genus Acanthobrama on first branchial arch, thick, truncated, and widely characterised by a thickened last unbranched dorsal- spaced. Fifth ceratobrachial arch thin and sickle-like, fin ray (vs. weak in the genus Vimba) and a well- bent anteriorly. Pharyngeal teeth 2.5-5.2 or 1.5-5.2, developed ventral keel on the belly between the anus slender and with distinctly bent tips, not serrated. 98 www.SID.ir Küçük et al.- The systematic position of Acanthalburnus and Acanthobrama in Turkey Fig.3.