Salariopsis renatorum, Yoğurtçuoğlu & Kaya & Atalay & Ekmekçi & Freyhof, 2023

Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Kaya, Cüneyt, Atalay, Mustafa Altuğ, Ekmekçi, Fitnat Güler & Freyhof, Jörg, 2023, Two new freshwater blennies from the Eastern Mediterranean basin (Teleostei: Blenniidae), Zootaxa 5311 (1), pp. 85-104 : 96-100

Salariopsis renatorum , new species

( Figs. 8–11 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B7534639-E2A4-47CE-8513-C51289ECA4DA

Holotype. FFR 4262, 61 mm SL; Türkiye: Kahramanmaraş prov.: Aksu at Pazarcık , 37.5390 37.3480.

Paratype. FFR 4267, 4, 51–66 mm SL; FSJF 4118 , 8 , 41–69 mm SL; same data as holotype.—FFR 4265, 2, 57–62 mm SL; Türkiye: Kahramanmaraş prov.: Tekir River at Çağlayan , 36.7060 27.1358 .

Additional materials. FFR 4264, 5, 41–69 mm SL; FSJF 4119 , 9 , 41–54 mm SL; Türkiye: Osmaniye prov.: Karasu River at Günyazı , 37.0672 35.9662 .— FFR 4263, 2, 51–53 mm SL; Türkiye: Hatay prov.: stream Haçahmetli at Hüyük 36.3691 35.9134 .

New material used in molecular genetic analysis. FSJF-DNA 3527 ; Türkiye: Hatay prov.: stream Hacahmetli at Arsuz , 36.3691 35.9134 (GenBank accession number: OQ696237) .— FSJF-DNA 3539 : Türkiye; Kahramanmaraş prov.: Aksu at Pazarcık , 37.5390 37.3480 (GenBank accession number: OQ696242) .— FSJF-DNA 3553 , 3565 , 3568 , 3569 , 3571 , 3574 , 3583 : Türkiye: Osmaniye prov.: Karasu at Günyazı , 37.0672 35.9662, (GenBank accession numbers: OQ696229, OQ696243, OQ696232, OQ696230, OQ696231, OQ696228, OQ696233).— FFR-DNA 4253; Türkiye: Osmaniye prov.: Karasu at Toprakkale, 37.0605 36.1122 (GenBank accession numbers: OQ696256, OQ696267, OQ696273) .— FSJF-DNA 4250 ; Türkiye: Kahramanmaraş prov.: Aksu at Pazarcık , 37.5390 37.3480 (GenBank accession numbers: OQ696271, OQ696272) .

Diagnosis. Salariopsis renatorum is distinguished from other species in Salariposis by having black lateral-line pores (vs. yellowish or whitish) ( Fig 12 ). It is further distinguished by having an unbranched cirrus above the eye (vs. branched in S. fluviatilis and S. burcuae ), no black dots on the cheek and the upper part of the back (vs. present in S. economidisi , S. fluviatilis and S. burcuae ), and 15–25 teeth in the upper and 15–21 teeth in the lower jaw (vs. 13–15 and 14–16 in S. atlantica , 25–30, and 20–27 in S. economidisi ). It is further distinguished from S. burcuae by having a shorter snout (snout length 25–30% HL vs. 30–34), and 11–13 simple dorsal-fin rays (vs. 13–15).

Description. See Figures 8–11 for general appearance and Table 4 for morphometric data. Small to medium sized species. Body compressed laterally, deepest at dorsal-fin origin. Section of head triangular, flattened on ventral surface. Caudal peduncle short and compressed, 1.1–1.5 times deeper than long. Male with 2–3 glandular shaped tissue between first anal ray and anus. Posteriormost gland attached to first anal-fin ray. Supraocular tentacle simple. Lateral line incomplete, with 16–21 simple pores and 2–10 short bi-pore tubes. Dorsal fin with 11–13 simple and 15–18 segmented rays. First segmented dorsal-fin ray 1.2–1.6 times longer than first simple dorsal-fin ray. Depth of spinous portion approximately equal to segmented-ray portion, usually shallower in female; posterior membranous attachment on dorsal edge of caudal peduncle anterior to caudal-fin base. Anal fin with 2 simple and 14–17 segmented rays, posterior membranous attachment on ventral edge of caudal peduncle anterior to caudal-fin base. Pectoral-fin with 1 simple 12 segmented rays. Pelvic-fin with (2) 3 segmented rays. Anterior nostril with a short point along posterior margin, never developed as supraocular tentacle. Supratemporal canal with (2) 3 pores. Preoperculo-mandibular canal with 11–13 pores. Circum-orbital canal with 8–10 and preopercular canal with 7–8 pores. Upper jaw with 16–23 teeth, posterior 2 on each side caniniform. Lower jaw with 15–20 teeth, posterior 2 on each side caniniform. Both sexes with a fleshy ridge of crest on head in specimens larger than 30 mm SL.Adult male larger than 30 mm SL with a well-developed crest, adult female larger than 30 mm SL with sharp ridge only.

Coloration. Background pale yellowish brown. Pores of the lateral line black. Pattern highly variable, following the basal pattern described below. No midlateral row of dark-brown blotches. 5–6 dark brown saddles along dorsal body contour and on base of dorsal fin. Surface of lateral myomeres usually darker, rarely paler, than surface of myosepts resulting in a pattern of parallel edges of triangles. No black dots on upper flank or on head. Lateral-line pores black. An upper and lower, pale-yellowish blotch at caudal peduncle.

Head with five yellowish band, usually less distinct than in other Salariopsis . First from tip of snout to eye, usually very wide, fused with band on opposite site; snout yellowish without interruption. Two bands from eye to head-crest, two from eye to lower part of opercule. A large yellowish blotch at corner of mouth and adjacent, posterior part of upper lip, and one additional yellowish blotch on anterior part of lower jaw. A short additional yellowish band on lower jaw. Cirrus yellowish.

Dorsal fin with dark blotches or band along base, rays usually tessellate, with whitish margin and wide, reddish or pink distal band. A black blotch between anterior two spines, conspicuous in female and juveniles, faint to indistinct in male. Anal fin plain greyish brown, with a white or yellow distal and dark brown subdistal bands. Caudal-fin base with a dark brown blotch; 3–6 vertical rows of dark brown spots on rays, usually red or pink. Pectoral-fin rays tessellated and a few black spots equivalent to those on head and flank. Pelvic hyaline.

Etymology. Freely formed on “ renātus ”, perfect participle of the Latin verb “ renāscor ” signifying rejuvenation, renewal, or rebirth. The type locality of the species is situated in Pazarcık, which acted as the central location for the devastating earthquakes that impacted several Turkish cities, along with some Syrian regions, on February 6, 2023. These seismic events led to the loss of over 60,000 lives with a significant number of individuals injured and a substantial amount of structural damage. The species name is emblematic of the concepts of regeneration and revival, honouring the hope and resilience demonstrated by the communities impacted by these calamitous events. Additionally, the name is dedicated in memory of Gözde Bayırlı, a cousin of BY, as well as her family and all others who lost their lives during this tragic earthquake. Treated as a genitive plural.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Slariopsis renatorum, FFR 4262, holotype, 61 mm SL; Türkiye: Aksu at Pazarcık.

FIGURE 9. Salariopsis renatorum, from top, FFR 4267, paratype, 50 mm SL; Türkiye: Aksu at Pazarcık; FFR 4264, 45 mm SL; 41 mm SL; 40 mm SL; Türkiye: Karasu at Günyüzü.

FIGURE 10. Salariopsis renatorum, FFR 4262, holotype, 61 mm SL; Türkiye: Aksu at Pazarcık.

FIGURE 11. Salariopsis renatorum, FFR 4264, paratypes, 69 mm SL; 41 mm SL; 44 mm SL; Türkiye: Karasu at Günyazı.

FIGURE 12. Lateral-line pores in Salariopsis renatorum (left) and Salariopsis burcuae (right).