Aegean Chub

biology_ecology

Habitat. Streams and rivers, including adjacent reservoirs, from which it migrates into tributaries to spawn. Biology. Lives up to 7 years. Matures after the first winter in males and the second winter in females in most populations. Spawns between early April and late May.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Squalius in Western and Central Anatolia by: ○ 16 – 17 circumpeduncular scales / ○ anal rays orange in live, blackish in preserved individuals / ○ mouth subterminal in adults / ○ silvery or golden in life / ○ no stripe on flank / ○ anal membranes hyaline / ○ a dark-brown, vertically elongated or roundish spot or blotch on flank scale pockets / ○ spots or blotches on scales pockets also on predorsal back / ○ upper lip clearly projecting beyond lower / ○ upper head profile convex / ○ snout rounded with obtuse tip / ○ interorbital area convex / ○ 40 – 43 + 2 – 3 lateral-line scales / ○ 6 – 9 gill rakers / ○ abdomen between posterior extremity of pelvic base and anus distinctly compressed / ○ dorso-hypural distance reaching nostrils and anterior half of eye when reported forwards / ○ mouth subterminal in adults / ○ length of caudal peduncle 8 – 12 % SL. Size up to 180 mm SL.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

discussion

Remarks. Molecular data suggest this species is closely related to S. carinus from Lake Işıklı basin.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

distribution

Distribution. Türkiye: Aegean basin from Eşen north to Madra southern Biga Peninsula. Absent from Tahtalı and Küçük Menderes, as well as from Işıklı, but occurs in Karadirek. Introduced to Aksu (Mediterranean basin). Greece: Islands of Lesbos and Samos.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia