Alburnus istanbulensis Battalgil, 1941

Family:  Leuciscidae (Minnows), subfamily: Leuciscinae
Max. size:  18 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Turkey in coastal streams of Thrace from Karasu (Marmara Sea drainage) to Papuç (Black Sea drainage), and Lake Sapanca.
Diagnosis:  Diagnosed from congeners in Aegean and Black Sea basin by the following characters: origin of anal fin about ½ -1½ scales behind dorsal fin base; lateral line with 57-63 + 3-4 scales; anal fin with 13-15½ branched rays (mode 14½ ); base of paired fin hyaline or grey in spawners; 24-35 gill rakes (mode 31); length of gill raker at angle of upper and lower limbs of first gill arch 30-55% of opposite inner gill filament; ventral keel exposed for 8-12 scales in front of anus; caudal peduncle depth 1.8-2.3 times in its length; and nuptial males with few, large tubercles (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Occurs in rivers and lakes. Forages in lower section of rivers, close to the surface. Undertakes migration to upper reaches of tributaries for spawning. Spawns in riffles with heavy current on gravel bottom (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 March 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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