Chondrostoma prespense Karaman 1924

Diagnosed from congeners in Balkan Peninsula by the following characters: slightly arched mouth, lower lip with thin cornified sheath; scales on lateral line 56-66; ½ 8-9/1/5-6 scales in transverse row between dorsal-fin and pelvic-fin origins; dorsal fin with 8½ branched rays; anal fin with 8-9½; and 23-27 gill rakers (Ref. 59043).

Inhabits lakes and enters tributaries during spawning season (Ref. 59043). Occurs in water bodies at high altitude (ref. 26100). Feeds on macrophytes, invertebrates (Ref. 59043) and algae (Ref. 26100). Undertakes migration exclusively at night (Ref. 59043). Reproduction takes place in April and May. Threatened due to water abstraction and the introduction of other species (Ref. 26100).

fisheries: commercial

Chondrostoma prespense is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is endemic to the Prespa Lakes in Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia. Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater lakes. It is threatened by habitat loss.