Capoeta banarescui Turan, Kottelat, Ekmekçi and İmamoğlu, 2006

Roman, A., Afanasyev, S., Golub, O. & Lietytska, O., 2022, Capoeta Svanetica (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), A New Species From The Luchunis River (Rioni River Drainage) In Georgia, Zoodiversity 56 (2), pp. 117-134 : 129

Capoeta banarescui Turan, Kottelat, Ekmekçi and İmamoğlu, 2006

Types. Holotype. ESFM-PISI/2004-072, 177 mm SL; Turkey: Artvin: Tortum District: Çoruh drainage, stream Tortum , 100 km north of Erzurum; 40°34' N 41°36' E; D. Turan, F. Ekmekci, H. Imamoglu, O. Serdar, S. Kırankaya, 19.07.2004. Paratypes. ESFM-PISI/2004-073, 4, 166- 201 mm SL; FFR 712, 16, 85-232 mm SL; CMK 18474, 5, 135-193 mm SL; same data as holotype. — FFR 711, 9, 163 — 231 mm SL; CMK 18540, 9, 121 — 193 mm SL; Turkey: Artvin: Chorokh drainage, Bulanık stream, Savsat, 30 km east of Artvin, 41°34' N 42°14' E; D. Turan, F. Ekmekci, H. Imamoglu, O. Serdar, S. Kırankaya, 19.06.2004. — FFR 720, 3, 92 — 125 mm SL; CMK 18549, 1, 145 mm SL; Turkey: Cavuslu, Borcka, 41°21' N 41°42' E; D. Turan, 13.10.2004 (after Turan et al., 2006 b) .

T y p e L o c a l i t y. Chorokh River.

D i a g n o s i s. Meristic characters (tables 1–4): D: III-IV 7–9 (8.0), P: I 17–19 (17.8), V: I 9–10 (9.1), A: III 5, lateral line: 64–77 (70.8), scales number above/below lateral line: 12–14 (12.8)/8–9 (8.1).

C. banarescui is distinguished from other Capoeta species of East and South–East Black Sea rivers ( C. svanetica sp. n., C. sieboldi , C. oguzelii , C. baliki , C. ekmekciae , and also from C. tinca Sea of Marmara basin) by the combination of characters. Two pairs of barbels ( C. sieboldi and C. oguzelii have only one pair); gill rakers number (12–16 (14.7)) higher than in C. oguzelii but fewer than for C. sieboldi , C. baliki , C. tinca , and C. ekmekciae ; last unbranched dorsal-fin ray well ossified with the high number of serrae (unlike C. sieboldi and C. oguzelii ); 8–9 scales rows below the lateral line (less than in C. baliki and C. oguzelii ). C. banarescui is also characterized by longer posterior barbels 18.4–28.8 (21.9) than the same parameter for C. baliki and C. tinca .

D i s t r i b u t i o n. C. banarescui is known from Chorokh and Yesilırmak rivers (Turan et. al., 2006 a; Elp et al., 2018). This species is also noted for Georgian waters ( Kuljanishvili et al., 2020). Some additional samples were studied from the Rioni River basin (Gubistskali River, fig. 9 ) and Chorokh River ( fig. 10 ). These individuals were recognized as C. banarescui Thus , we should conclude C. banarescui is the widest distributed species in West Georgian rivers from Rioni to Chorokh.

There are no clear differences in morphological features (meristics and morphometrics, including mouth arching — fig. 9 , b and, 10 b) but some differences in general body appearance and coloration should be concluded. Specimen from Gubistskali River is slightly elongated with more concave dorsal and anal fins. Specimen from Chorokh River is slightly highest with straightly edged dorsal and anal fins. The coloration of the first is goldish in total, darker on the back and lighter on the belly, with more dark (up to brown) fins. Chorokh’s specimen had more greyish coloration on the back and lighter (up to white) on the belly. All fins are gray. These differences in coloration may be connected with conditions in the river. In the first case, the specimen was sampled during floods, when river water was rich in sediments. The second case was different — the specimen was collected in clear water.

Figures

Fig.9. Live specimen of C. banarescui adult sample general body appearance (a), Gubistskali River and its lower lip structure (b).

Fig. 10. Live specimen of C. banarescui juvenile sample general body appearance (a), Chorokh River and its lower lip structure (b).