Hemigrammocapoeta menderesensis Küçük, Bayçelebi, Güçlü & Gülle, 2015, sp. n.

Hemigrammocapoeta menderesensis, sp. n.

( Fig. 1)

Holotype. IFC-ESUF 03-1300a, 52 mm SL; Turkey, Denizli, Lake Işıklı, Büyük Menderes River, F. Küçük & S.S. Güçlü. 20.06.2011.

Paratypes. IFC-ESUF 03-1300b, 12, 42– 54 mm SL; data same as holotype

Diagnosis. Hemigrammocapoeta menderesensis is distinguished from all other species of Hemigrammocapoeta in Anatolia by the following unique combination of characters (none unique to the species): mouth small, subterminal, horseshoe shaped, arched and without barbel; lips developed, lower lip with two lateral lobes and median pad; lateral lobe small and shorter than half width of median pad; lower and upper lips with numerous papillae (Fig. 2 a). Lateral line scales 6–17 (mean=10.1; SD=0.74) and scales in lateral series 36–41 +1–2 (mean=38.5; SD=0.45) gill rakers on outer side of first gill arch 15–17 (mean=16; SD= 0.24); caudal fin slightly forked, lobes slightly pointed. Some flank scales with large black spots and numerous small black dots on each flank scale (Fig. 1).

Description. General appearance of the species is shown in Figure 1; morphometric and meristic data are given in Tables 1 and 2.

Body slender, its depth at dorsal fin origin 24.2–26.7% SL; upper profile markedly convex at predorsal area and straight or slightly convex at postdorsal area; ventral profile straight or slightly convex. Head somewhat long, length 26.9–29.0% SL, upper profile straight or very slightly convex at interorbital area, markedly convex on snout. Mouth small, width of mouth gape 18.8–22.5% HL, subterminal, horseshoe shaped, slightly arched and without barbels. Lower jaw well developed, slightly arched, covered by horny sheath, with sharp edge. Lips developed and lower lip with slightly fleshy lateral lobes and median pad. Lateral lobes small and approximately half of width of median pad. Papillae numerous on lower and upper lips (Fig. 2 a); snout short and slightly pointed, its length 32.4–36.3% HL. Eye large, its diameter 24.7–28.8% HL.

Dorsal fin with 3-4 simple and 7½ branched rays; fin height 19.4–24.8% SL, and markedly greater than pectoralfin length, outer margin of dorsal fin straight to convex. Pectoral fin short, its length 15.0–17.8% SL, outer margin rounded, and with 11–13 (mean=11.9; SD= 0.14) branched rays. Pelvic fin straight, with 1 simple and 7 branched rays. Anal fin slender, its height 14.6–16.7 %SL, with 3 simple and 5½ branched rays; outer margin of fin slightly concave. Caudal fin forked, lobes slightly pointed, with 15–17 branched rays (mean=16.3; SD=0.19). Lateral line with 6–17 (mean=10.1; SD=0.74) scales and lateral series with 36–41 + 1–2 scales (mean= 38.5; SD= 0.45); 6–7 rarely 8 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin (mean =6.7; SD= 0.25); 4–5 scale rows between lateral series and pelvic-fin origin (mean=4.5; SD=0.12). Gill rakers 15–17 on outer side of first gill arch (mean=16; SD=0.24). Pharyngeal teeth 2.4.5-5.3.3.

Sexual dimorphism. There is no sexual dimorphism.

Coloration. Formalin fixed adults and juveniles greyish on back and upper part of flank; lower part of flank and belly yellowish. Dorsal and caudal fins grey; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins light greyish. Large black spot on some flank scales and numerous small black dots on each flank scale. Caudal peduncle with small irregular-shaped black spot (Fig. 1).

Distribution. Hemigrammocapoeta menderesensis is known from Lake Işıklı. This Lake is connected with the Büyük Menderes River (Fig. 3).

Etymology. The name of the species is derived from the Büyük Menderes River. An adjective.

The genus Hemigrammocapoeta is characterized by small-sized fish with an incomplete lateral line, a subterminal, crescent or horseshoe-shaped mouth, a lower jaw covered by horny a sheath, and the lower lip with lateral lobes and without or only slightly developed median pad. Hemigrammocapoeta can be divided into two subgroups, eastern Mediterranean species and central Anatolian species. H. culiciphaga Pellegrin, 1927 (Adana, Seyhan River) and H. caudamaculatus Battalgil, 1942 (Lake Amik, Asi River), were described from eastern Mediterranean. H. kemali (Hanko, 1295) (Ereğli) and H. klatti (Kosswig, 1950) (Lakes Eğirdir and Gölcük) were also described from Central Anatolia (Fig. 3). The Central Anatolian species is immediately distinguished from the eastern Mediterranean species by the absence maxillary barbels, the shape of mouth (Fig. 2 a, b, vs. Fig. 2 c, d) and having more scales in lateral series (36–47 vs. 29–34).

Hemigrammocapoeta culiciphaga was described from Seyhan River (city of Adana) and H. caudamaculatus from the Asi River. These species have one pair of barbels around the corner of the mouth, 29–32 (in H. culiciphaga) and 32–34 (in H. caudamaculatus) scales in the lateral series (data from Pellegrin, 1928: 50; data from Battalgil 1942: 296). We examined some specimens from Seyhan (n=3, sq. 30–31), Ceyhan (n=34, sq. 29–34) and Asi rivers (n=14, sq. 31–34). No significant differences were observed for number of scales in lateral series and the shape of mouth (Fig. 2 c, d) among the basins. As a consequence, we considered H. caudamaculatus a synonym of H. culiciphaga.

The type locality of Hemigrammocapoeta kemali is Akgöl near Ereğli (Central Anatolia) while the type locality of H. klatti is Lake Eğirdir and (Mediterranean Sea basin) Lake Gölcük. Hemigrammocapoeta kemali has similar diagnostic characters with H. klatti such as the number of scales in lateral series (36–45 + 1–2 in H. kemali; 36–43 + 1–2 in H. klatti), number of gill rakers (9–15 in H. kemali; 13–15 in H. klatti), shape of mouth (Fig. 2 a, b) and the absence or very few papillae on lips. We were not able to ascertain significant differences between these two species and therefore consider H. klatti a synonym of H. kemali.

Hemigrammocapoeta menderesensis is immediately distinguished from H. kemali by having more gill rakers on first gill arch (15–17 vs. 9–15), somewhat fewer scales in lateral series (36–41 + 1–2 vs. 36–45 + 1–2), a narrower mouth (width of mouth gape 18.8–22.5% HL vs. 22.5–26.1) and a larger eye (diameter 24.7–28.8% HL vs. 20.1–24.2). H. menderesensis further differs from H. kemali by mouth shape (Fig. 2 a, b). In H. menderesensis the mouth is narrow, the lower lip is arched anteriorly, the length of lateral lobe is shorter than half width of median pad and there are numerous papillae on lower and upper lips. In H. kemali, the mouth is width, the lower lip is usually straight anteriorly, the length of lateral lobe is greater than half width of median pad and there are no or very few papillae on lower and upper lips. Other than the differences listed above, the two species can be distinguished with their general body color and pattern. In H. menderesensis, the body is greyish dorsally and on upper part of flank, and yellowish on lower part of flank and belly; there are large black spots on some flank scales and numerous small black dots on each flank scale (Fig. 1). In H. kemali, the body is dark brown dorsally and on flanks, and light brownish on belly; there are a few small black dots on each flank scale (Fig. 4).

Hemigrammocapoeta menderesensis is immediately distinguished from H. culiciphaga by the absence maxillary barbels, mouth shape (Fig. 2 a, b vs. Fig. 2 c, d) and having more scales in lateral series (37–43 vs. 29–34).