Barbus niluferensis, Turan, Davut, Kottelat, Maurice & Ekmekçi, Güler, 2009

Turan, Davut, Kottelat, Maurice & Ekmekçi, Güler, 2009, Barbus niluferensis, a new species of barbel (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Nilüfer River, Turkey, with re-description of B. oligolepis, Zootaxa 1981, pp. 15-28 : 21-23

Barbus niluferensis , new species

Figure 5

Holotype. FFR 381, 143 mm SL; Turkey: Bursa Prov.: Orhangazi County: Karaköprü Stream, entering Doġancı Reservoir, Nilüfer River drainage, 40°04'N 29°00'E; D. Turan & Ş. G. Kırankaya, 14 September 2004.

Paratypes. FFR 218, 50, 63–134 mm; CMK 18818, 5, 67–113 mm SL; CMK 18520, 5, 97–131 mm SL; CGE uncat., 21, 62– 119 mm SL; same data as holotype.

Additional material (non types). FFR 2523, 12, 75–146 mm SL; Turkey: Bursa Prov.: Harmancık county: Kepekdere Stream at Kepekdere Village, Koca River drainage; D. Turan & R. Buyurucu, 8 July 2007.

Diagnosis. Barbus niluferensis is distinguished from the other species of the genus in Turkey and the Aegean basin by having a less strongly ossified last simple dorsal-fin ray and with fewer serrae along the proximal part of its posterior margin (serrated along 49–52 % of its length, vs. 56–77; 15–17 serrae, vs. 18–32; Fig. 2 b) and fewer gill rakers on the first gill arch (6–8, modally 8, vs. 7–14, modally 9–11 in the different species; Table 2 ). It is further distinguished by the following characters (none unique to the species): a small size (largest known specimen 146 mm SL); a short caudal fin (15.7–20.4 % SL); large and numerous irregular black spots on the back, as well as on the fins and flank, and small black spots on the head, extending downwards to the cheek; fleshy lips; 62–71 lateral line scales; 13–15 scale rows between the lateral line and the dorsal-fin origin; 8–10 scale rows between the lateral line and the anal-fin origin; last simple dorsal-fin ray weakly ossified; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 17.2–22.4 % SL; and head length 23.3–25.7 % SL.

Description. General appearance is shown in Figure 5 and head from below in Figure 3 b; morphometric and meristic data are given in Tables 1 and 2. Body slender and slightly compressed laterally. Upper profile arched in specimens smaller than about 100 mm SL, almost straight in larger ones; ventral profile almost straight at all sizes. Head deep, dorsal profile convex. Lips weakly developed, with papillae; lower lip with a short median lobe ( Fig. 3 b). Maxillary barbel usually reaching nostrils.

Dorsal fin with 4 simple and 8½ branched rays; posterior margin slightly convex; origin slightly in front of vertical through pelvic-fin origin; last simple ray weakly ossified and serrated along proximal 49–52 % of its posterior margin ( Fig. 2 b). Pectoral fin rounded, with 1 simple and 16–18 branched rays. Pelvic fin rounded, with 1 simple and 8 branched rays. Anal fin with 3 simple and 5½ branched rays; outer margin convex; reaching base of caudal fin. Caudal fin forked, lobes rounded. Lateral line with 62 (2), 63 (4), 64 (2), 65 (3), 66 (3), 67 (4), 68 (1) and 71 (1) scales; 13 (8), 14 (9) and 15 (3) scale rows between lateral line and dorsalfin origin; 8 (5), 9 (13) and 10 (2) scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin. Gill rakers 2–3 + 4–5 = 6–8 on outer side of first gill arch. Vertebrae 27 + 16 = 43 (1), 28 + 15 = 43 (16), 28 + 16 = 44 (3). Pharyngeal teeth 5.3.2–2.3.5.

Sexual dimorphism. Anal fin of female markedly longer than that of male.

Coloration. Formalin preserved adults and juveniles grayish brown on back and flank, yellowish on belly. All fins yellowish; numerous large and irregular black spots on back and flanks, and small black spots on head, extending downwards to cheek; fine black spots on rays of all fins.

Distribution and notes on biology. Barbus niluferensis is presently known only from Karaköprü Stream, a tributary of Nilüfer River, and Kepekdere Stream, a tributary of the Kocasu (= Koca), a river entering Lake Ulubat. Nilüfer and Koca join at Hayirlar (40°17' N 28°27'E) and drain to the Sea of Marmara ( Fig. 4). It inhabits swift flowing water, with cobble and pebble bottom. Barbus oligolepis , Alburnoides bipunctatus and Capoeta tinca have been collected together with B. niluferensis . Its maximum known size is 146 mm SL.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Last simple dorsal-fin ray of: a, Barbus oligolepis, FFR 380, 109 mm SL; b, B. niluferensis, FFR 381, 115 mm SL; c, B. cyclolepis, FFR 768, 121 mm SL; d, B. escherichii, FFR 764, 112 mm SL; e, B. pergamonensis, FFR 527, 131 mm SL.

FIGURE 3. Ventral view of head of: a, Barbus oligolepis, FFR 380, 198 mm SL; b, B. niluferensis, FFR 381, 136 mm SL; c, B. cyclolepis, FFR 768, 124 mm SL; d, B. escherichii, FFR 764, 187 mm SL; e, B. pergamonensis, FFR 527, 115 mm SL.

FIGURE 5. Barbus niluferensis, holotype, FFR 381, 143 mm SL; Turkey: Nilüfer drainage.