Alburnus orontis

Common name. Orontes spotted bleak.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Alburnus in Mediterranean basin by: ○ 52–59+2–3 lateral line scales / ○ 12–15½ branched anal rays / ○ ventral keel exposed 0–2 scales / ○ anal origin behind last branched dorsal ray / ○ flank plain silvery, yellowish or with fine mottled pattern / ○ last simple dorsal ray stiff / ○ pelvic axillary scales present / ○ scales on back, flank, and belly well developed, overlapping / ○ 5–7 scale rows between lateral line and anal origin. Size up to 126 mm SL.

Distribution . Türkiye and Syria: Orontes drainage.

Habitat. Moderately fast-flowing streams and rivers with gravel or sand substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. VU; occurs in less than 10 independent, mostly declining populations.

Further reading. Krupp 1985d (morphology, distribution); Geiger et al. 2014 (phylogeny); Freyhof & Turan 2019 (identification, distribution).