Validation of Alburnus timarensis from the Lake Van basin, eastern Anatolia (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Abstract

The Lake Van basin located in eastern Anatolia is inhabited by two species of Alburnus: Alburnus tarichi is a migratory species foraging in the lake and spawning in all tributaries, while A. timarensis is resident in streams and is known only from one tributary of the lake, the Karasu. It could be shown that A. timarensis is a valid species, which is rediagnosed here. Both species are syntopic during the spawning season, but are well distinguished by size, gill raker and lateral line scale counts.

Keywords:

• Alburnus timarensis
• Alburnus tarichi
• Lake Van Basin
• taxonomy
• Turkey

Acknowlegements

We wish to thank the Head of Scientific Research Project of Yüzüncü Yıl University (Project no: 2006-ZF-YTR-12) for supporting this project. We are very thankful to Füsun Erk'akan (Hacettepe University) for informing us about the types of A. timarensis in her care and Nina Bogutskaya (St. Petersburg) for discussions about the types of A. tarichi. We are pleased to thank Ertuğrul Kankaya (Van) for assistance in the field and James Maclaine (BMNH, London) for allowing JF to examine the type of L. vanensis in his care.