Alburnus akili

Common name. Beyşehir bleak.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Alburnus in Central Anatolia, Aegean, Marmara, and Black Sea basins by: ● 72–90 total lateral line scales / ○ 8½ branched dorsal rays / ○ 13½ branched anal rays. Size up to 150 mm SL.

Distribution . Türkiye: Lakes Beyşehir and Suğla (Seydişehir) basins as well as Çarşamba channel connecting both lakes.

Habitat. Lacustrine known only from lakes and slow-flowing channels.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. Extinct; last time recorded in 1985, when population was already small. Extinction followed introduction of non-native Sander lucioperca in 1978 and 1980.

Remarks. In the original description, 85–88 total scales were given for this species, while a later study gives only 72–75 total scales. The correct count remains unclear, but F. Küçük counted 78–80 total lateral line scales (pers. comm.). Since the early 2000s, the non-native A. escherichii has become common in the former range of A. akili .

Further reading. Battalgil 1942 (description); Erdemli 1982 (morphology); Freyhof & Özuluğ 2010a; Küçük 2012 (extinction).