Turan'S Minnow

This species can be diagnosed from all congeners from Eastern Mediterranean Region (Pseudophoxinus firati, P. kervillei, P. zeregi, P. zekayi) by the following unique combination of characters: head short, its length 26-28% SL, approximately equal to or slightly shorter than body depth; mouth terminal, with slightly distinct chin, its corner not reaching vertical through anterior margin of eye; eye small, its diameter 25-29% HL, smaller than snout length; lateral line incomplete, with 12-25 (commonly 16-21) perforated scales and 38-46+2-3 scales in lateral series (commonly 41-44 +2-3); 10-11 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; 3-4 scale rows between lateral line and the pelvic-fin origin; 8-11(rarely 13) gill rakers on the first branchial arch; and pharyngeal teeth 5-4, slightly serrated and hooked at tip (Ref. 96086).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analsoft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 36 - 38

Turan's minnow (Pseudophoxinus turani) is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is endemic to Incesu Spring in the Orontes River drainage in Turkey.

(See Figs 2, 3 for general appearance and Tables 1, 2 for morphometric and meristic data). Body deep, its depth at dorsal-fin origin 26–29% SL, mean 27.8, and laterally compressed. Dorsal profile markedly convex with marked hump at nape, ventral profile less convex than dorsal profile. Dorsal-fin origin situated behind base of pelvic-fin. Predorsal length 56–60% SL, mean 58.2 and prepelvic length 51–54% SL, mean 52.4. Head short, its length 26–28% SL, mean 26.9, approximately equal to or slightly shorter than body depth, upper profile straight or slightly convex on interorbital area and markedly convex on snout. Mouth terminal, with slightly marked chin, its corner not reaching vertical through anterior margin of eye. Eye small, its diameter 25–29% HL, mean 26.6. Snout somewhat long, with rounded tip, its length 27–31% HL, mean 30.4, greater than eye diameter. Caudal-peduncle length 17–20% SL, mean 18.4; caudal-peduncle length 1.3–1.7, mean 1.5, times its depth. Lateral line incomplete, commonly not reaching the level of anus, 12–25 perforated scales, 38–46+2-3 scales in lateral series. Dorsal fin with 3 simple and 7½ branched rays, outer margin straight or slightly convex. Anal fin with 3 simple and 6½ (2 specimens)–7½ (19 specimens) branched rays, outer margin straight or slightly convex. Pectoral fins with 11–12 (rarely 13) branched rays, outer margin convex. Pelvic fins with 6 branched rays, outer margin convex. Caudal fin forked, lobes rounded. No pelvic axillary lobe and keel between posterior pelvic fin base and anus. Pharyngeal teeth 5–4, slightly serrated, hooked at tip. Gill rakers short, with 8–11 (rarely 13) on outer side of first gill arch. Scales oval, with numerous radii posteriorly. Total vertebrae 36–38, 21–22 abdominal and 16-17 caudal vertebrae, vertebral formulae: 36–38:20–21+16–17. Morphometry of Pseudophoxinus turani sp. n. (holotype IFC-ESUF 03-1002, paratypes IFC-ESUF 03-1003, n=20 )and Pseudophoxinus kervillei (IFC-ESUF 03-0987, n=21). Pseudophoxinus turani Pseudophoxinus kervillei Holotype Paratypes In percent of standard length Head Length 26.8 26.0-27.5 (26.9) ±0.001 24.8-29.9 (27.5) ±0.003 Body depth of dorsal- fin origin 26.0 25.9-29.2 (27.8) ±0.001 24.9-29.5 (27.8) ±0.003 Predorsal distance 57.8 55.9-59.6 (58.2) ±0.002 54.9-59.5 (56.9) ±0.003 Prepelvic distance 52.3 50.7-54.3 (52.4) ±0.002 50.9-54.7 (52.8) ±0.003 Preanal distance 73.5 70.8-76.2 (73.6) ±0.003 70.3-77.9 (72.8) ±0.006 Distance between pectoral and anal-fin origins 47.7 45.4-49.5 (48.1) ±0.003 43.7-49.7 (46.6) ±0.005 Distance between pectoral and pelvic-fin origins 25.5 24.1-26.7 (25.9) ±0.002 21.8-27.2 (23.9) ±0.004 Distance between pelvic and anal-fin origins 21.7 20.5-23.9 (22.1) ±0.002 20.7-23.9 (22.4) ±0.003 Dorsal fin depth 22.4 21.9-24.8 (23.5) ±0.001 19.6-25.3 (22.7) ±0.005 Dorsal fin length 12.4 11.7-13.9 (12.9) ±0.001 11.7-12.9 (12.5) ±0.003 Anal fin depth 16.9 16.8-19.3 (18.1) ±0.001 16.1-18.9 (17.8) ±0.002 Anal fin length 11.2 10.9-12.1 (11.3) ±0.004 10.1-13.6 (11.6) ±0.003 Pectoral fin length 20.1 16.2-20.8 (19.3) ±0.002 17.5-23.1 (19.0) ±0.004 Pelvic fin length 17.1 14.7-19.9 (17.8) ±0.003 16.3-18.2 (16.9) ±0.001 Caudal peduncle length 20.1 17.0-20.1 (18.4) ±0.002 15.2-20.3 (17.5) ±0.004 Caudal peduncle depth 12.5 11.7-13.9 (12.8) ±0.001 10.9-12.9 (12.1) ±0.002 In percent of head length Snout length 28.5 26.8-31.5 (30.4) ±0.003 25.7-31.4 (28.0) ±0.005 Eye diameter 25.7 24.8-29.3 (26.6) ±0.003 26.9-32.7 (29.5) ±0.005 Interorbitaldistance 36.7 36.2-40.9 (38.9) ±0.003 35.1-42.3 (38.4) ±0.006 Head width 1 36.4 32.6-38.8 (36.3) ±0.004 29.6-35.7 (32.7) ±0.005 Head width 2 47.4 47.4-52.4 (50.5) ±0.002 44.8-52.1 (48.4) ±0.006 Head width 3 53.5 51.6-58.1 (54.9) ±0.003 50.1-56.4 (53.2) ±0.006 Head depth 1 56.5 54.4-63.8 (57.1) ±0.005 53.1-56.3 (55.1) ±0.005 Head depth 2 77.6 74.5-82.8 (78.8) ±0.007 71.8-79.0 (74.2) ±0.006 Internostril distance 20.9 20.2-24.8 (22.2) ±0.003 19.2-25.4 (22.2) ±0.004 Mouth width 26.5 23.1-29.4 (27.1) ±0.003 23.3-27.7 (25.2) ±0.004 Lower jaw length 36.9 34.9-42.7 (38.6) ±0.004 35.0-41.2 (38.2) ±0.004 Meristic features of the Eastern Mediterranean Region Pseudophoxinus species group (from comparative material). Species Lateral series scales Lateral line scales Pharyngeal teeth Gill rakers Vertebral formula Pseudophoxinus firati 41–49+1–2 35–51 5–5 (4) 6–7 37–38: 22+16–17 Pseudophoxinus kervillei 37–44+2–3 4–17 5–4 7–8 35–36:19–20+16–17 Pseudophoxinus turani sp. n. 38–46+2–3 12–25 5–4 8–11(13) 36–38:21–22+16–17 Pseudophoxinus zekayi 40–46+1–2 36–43 5–5 7–9 37–39:21–22+15–17 Pseudophoxinus zeregi 54–59+2–3 47–53 5–4 7–9 36–38:19–21+16–17