Actual distributions and validity of petroleuciscus spp., with the range extension and length-weight relationship data in case of petroleuciscus ninae

Abstract

The genus Petroleuciscus was known from the Marmara, Aegean, and Black Sea drainages, as well as southeast Anatolia and Iran. However, studies conducted in recent years have suggested that the species described in southeast Anatolia and Iran belong to different genera. The results and recommendations of these studies were evaluated. On the other hand, in the scope of this study, the taxonomic status and length-weight relationship of several Petroleuciscus ninae populations in Western Anatolia were evaluated. The morphological comparisons revealed that Tahtalı Reservoir, Küçük Menderes and Sarıçay rivers, and Acıgöl Lake`s Petroleuciscus populations recorded as Petroleuciscus smyrnaeus in all previous studies belong to P. ninae which was known only from the type locality Akçay Stream. In addition, the length-weight relationship of P. ninae in the lakes Akgöl and Belevi, Lake Acıgöl, stream Akçay, Sarıçay River, an inflow of Yenişehir Reservoir and inflow of Tahtalı Reservoir were studied. The following research considers some first records and comprehensive information on the length-weight relationship of P. ninae in the Western Anatolia water resources. In study, the constant b changed from 3.101 to 3.389 (Akçay Stream) in all the sampling locations. It is expected that the results of this research might support the conservation of this species and contribute knowledge of its taxonomic status.