Eastern shah kuli
Alburnus sellal Heckel, 1843
Also calledAleppo viidikas (est) · gumus baligi (tur) · ouklej alepská (ces)
First described in: Heckel, J. J. (1843). Ichthyologie [von Syrien]. <em>In: J. von Russegger. Reisen in Europa, Asien und Africa, mit besonderer Rücksicht auf die naturwissenschaftlichen Verhältnisse der betreffenden Länder unternommen in den Jahren 1835 bis 1841, etc. Stuttgart.</em> v. 1 (pt 2), pp 990-1099.
Descriptions from checklists and floras indexed by GBIF
biology_ecology
Habitat. Lakes, reservoirs, and all types of streams and rivers, from cold upland streams to subtropical rivers. Spawns in current on submerged vegetation or gravel substrate, also on wave-washed lake shores. Biology. Gregarious. Lives up to 5 – 6 years, usually matures at 2. Spawns June – August. Feeds on drifting invertebrates, small animals that have fallen to surface, mainly on zooplankton in lakes, reservoirs, and large rivers.
Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia
conservation
Conservation status. LC; extirpated from Syrian part of Qweiq.
Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia
diagnosis
Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Alburnus in Persian Gulf, Qweiq, Lake Van, and Iranian endorheic basins by: ○ usually 63 – 83 + 3 lateral-line scales / ○ 10 – 25 gill rakers in riverine populations, up to 35 in lake populations / ○ 10 – 13 ½ branched anal rays / ○ 11 – 16 scale rows between dorsal origin and lateral line / ○ 4 – 7 scale rows between lateral line and pelvic origin / ○ head depth at nape 14 – 16 % SL / ○ postorbital distance 10 – 12 % SL / ○ anal origin below last branched dorsal ray or behind / ○ ventral keel covered by one or more scales / ○ flank scales without grey margins or irregular set grey pigmentation / ○ a distinct, often bold mid-lateral stripe. Size up to 180 mm SL.
Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia
discussion
Remarks. The records from Orontes are most likely mislabelled, and this species has not been found here in 20 th and 21 st centuries. Alburnus heckeli, A. mossulensis, A. selcuklui, and A. zagrosensis are synonyms. Alburnus heckeli has been recognised as a separate species, differing in having more gill rakers (28 – 35 vs. 10 – 25 in A. sellal). Populations with high numbers of gill rakers, otherwise indistinguishable from A. sellal, have since been found in other lacustrine environments, including a reservoir. This suggests a rapid adaptation of this character to lentic conditions.
Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia
In the stacks
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Every page naming Alburnus sellal in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
From the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence records (GBIF.org), with Wikipedia and the Source Library. GBIF species 2360147.