Phoxinus kottelati, Bayçelebi, 2025

Bayçelebi, Esra, 2025, Discovery of a new minnow species in the Black and Marmara Sea basins, Türkiye, Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (3), pp. 1155-1162 : 1155-1162

Phoxinus kottelati sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 3 , 4 , 5

Materials examined.

Holotype. FFR 2328 , 49 mm SL; Türkiye: Çanakkale prov.: stream Koca about at Kalkım , 39.8144°N, 27.2299°E .

Paratypes. FFR 2310 , 34 specimens, 38–68 mm SL, same data as holotype . — FFR 2308 , 92 specimens, 33–56 mm SL; Türkiye: Sakarya Province: stream Uludere at Hendek , 40.8068°N, 30.7581°E . — FFR 2315 , 5 specimens, 43–53 mm SL; Türkiye: Çanakkale Province: stream Koca, about 3 km southwest of Aşağıçavuşlu village , 39.8269°N, 27.1467°E . — FFR 2316 , 14 specimens, 29–70 mm SL; Türkiye: Çanakkale Province: stream Koca at Aşağıçavuşlu village , 39.8120°N, 27.1085°E . — FFR 2318 , 20 specimens, 43–65 mm SL; Türkiye: Sakarya Province: stream Uludere at Hendek , 40.7710°N, 30.7384°E . — FFR 2319 , 16 specimens, 25–63 mm SL; Türkiye: Çanakkale Province: stream Koca near Aşağıçavuşlu village , 39.8131°N, 27.1061°E . — FFR 2323 , 31 specimens, 41–67 mm SL; Türkiye: Zonguldak Province: stream Akgüney , Black Sea basin, 41.4355°N, 31.8041°E .

Genetic material.

FFR - DNA-PH 17-18-19-21-22-23-24-25; Türkiye: Çanakkale Province: stream Koca near Kalkım, 39.8144°N, 27.2299°E (GenBank accession numbers: PQ 699164 – PQ 699171). — FFR - DNA-PH 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14; Türkiye: Sakarya Province: stream Uludere at Hendek, 40.7710°N, 30.7384°E (GenBank accession numbers: PQ 699153 – PQ 699163). — FFR - DNA-PH 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53; Türkiye: Zonguldak Province: stream Akgüney, Black Sea basin, 41.4355°N, 31.8041°E (GenBank accession numbers: PQ 699172 – PQ 699177).

Diagnosis.

Phoxinus kottelati is distinguished from other Phoxinus species in the Black Sea basin and Lake Abant drainage by a combination of characters, none of them unique. Phoxinus kottelati is distinguished from P. abanticus , P. colchicus , and P. strandjae by having breast scaled but separated unscaled area anteriorly in males (vs. absent in P. abanticus , breast scaled and scaled area connected anteriorly in P. colchicus , breast scaled connected or scales not connected anteriorly in P. strandjae ) (Fig. 6 ). P. kottelati is further distinguished from P. abanticus , P. colchicus , and P. strandjae by having color pattern in spawning period in males. In P. kottelati , Z 1 greyish with small and irregularly shaped brownish spots (vs. brownish with small irregularly shaped blackish spots in P. abanticus , light brown with vertically elongated pale blotches in P. colchicus , dark brown in P. strandjae ), Z 2 a light green stripe along the body (vs. disappeared in the front of the body, slightly distinct in the posterior part of the body in P. abanticus , indistinct in both posterior and anterior parts of body in P. colchicus , distinct in both anterior and posterior parts of body in P. strandjae ), Z 3 and Z 4 almost completely the sides of the body are distinctly green (vs. yellowish and only distinct in anterior part of the body in P. abanticus , absent in P. colchicus and in P. strandjae ), and Z 5 a yellowish line from pectoral to anal fins origin (vs. orange in P. abanticus ). A blue spot between the eye and the mouth (vs. absent in P. abanticus , in P. colchicus , and in P. strandjae ) and a white spot in front of anal and pectoral fins in males (vs. absent in P. abanticus and P. strandjae ).

Phoxinus kottelati is further distinguished from P. abanticus by having a longer and slenderer caudal peduncle (caudal peduncle depth 2.3–2.9 times its length, vs. 1.8–2.3. It further differs from P. abanticus by having more lateral line scales (77–90 vs. 60–69). P. kottelati is distinguished from P. abanticus by the absence of red pigments on dorsal-fin base in live specimens (vs. present). Phoxinus kottelati is distinguished from P. radeki by having the snout length almost equal to the interorbital distance (vs. snout length greater than interorbital distance) and a deeper caudal peduncle (its depth 9–12 % SL mean 10.3 vs. 8–10 mean 9.2). It further differs from P. radeki by having shorter and dark-brown rectangular bars along the lateral line (13–16 vs. 10–14) and head length 1.1–1.4 mean 1.3 times in body depth (vs. 1.3–1.5 mean 1.4). P. kottelati has dark stripes on the middle part of the flank in males, while P. radeki has no dark stripes on the middle part of the flank in males

Description.

The general appearance is shown in Figs 2 – 5 , and morphometric data are given in Table 1 . The largest examined specimen 70 mm SL. The body moderately elongated, dorsal profile and ventral profile slightly more convex than ventral one. The dorsal profile of head markedly more convex than ventral one. The mouth terminal or slightly subterminal, upper lip and snout not projecting beyond tip of lower jaw. The tip of upper lip at level or above level of lowest point of eye. Snout slightly pointed. The snout short and its upper profile straight or slightly convex. The snout length almost equal to the interorbital distance, its greater than the eye diameter. The caudal peduncle length 2.3–2.9 times in depth of the caudal peduncle.

The lateral line complete, with 77–90 scales, and almost reaching to caudal-fin base; 9–15 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; and 8–10 scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin. Dorsal fin with three simple and 7 ½ branched rays, outer margin straight or slightly convex. Pectoral-fin with 14–18 rays, outer margin convex. Pelvic fin with 8 branched rays, outer margin convex. Anal fin with three simple and 7 ½ branched rays, outer margin straight to convex. The caudal fin, forked.

Coloration. The specimens were fixed in formalin: back and upper parts of flank brown or grey, the lower part of flank yellowish or light brown, and belly yellowish. There are 13–16 broad and dark-brown rectangular bars along the lateral line. Dorsal, pectoral, anal, and caudal fins grey or light grey (except for some individuals), pelvic fin yellowish. In live male specimens during the spawning period: Z 1 greyish with small and irregularly shaped brownish spots; Z 2 a light green stripe along the body; Z 3 and Z 4 almost completely the sides of the body are distinctly green; Z 5 a yellowish line from pectoral to anal fins origin and orange between anal- and caudal-fin base; a blue spot between the eye and the mouth; edges of the lips, the base of dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins red. Pelvic and anal fin bases red; a white spot in front of anal and pectoral fins. In females: Z 1 and Z 2 light grey; Z 3 a green stripe along; Z 4 and Z 5 yellowish; all fins yellowish or greyish. A gery spot between the eye and the mouth (Fig. 2 ).

Sexual dimorphism.

Males with stronger and longer pectoral fins and nuptial tubercles on the head. Additionally, during the breeding season, a number of the body’s chromatophores are triggered, giving mature individuals their glossy appearance: Leucophores (white shine), iridophores (iridescent shine), erythrophores (orange / red pigments), xanthophores (yellow pigments), and melanophores (brown / black pigments) ( Fuji 2000; Denys et al. 2020) (See coloration and Fig. 2 ).

Etymology.

The species is named after Maurice Kottelat for his contribution to the knowledge of the ichthyofauna of Euroasia. A noun in genitive, indeclinable.

Distribution.

Phoxinus kottelati is presently known from the stream Koca, drainage of Lake Manyas, Marmara Sea basin, and the streams Uludere and Akgüney, Black Sea basin (Fig. 1 ). It occurs in the cold, high-oxygen waters of large lowland rivers and swift-moving mountain streams.

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution of Phoxinus species in Türkiye.

Figure 2. Phoxinus kottelati, from top: FFR 2323, 55 mm SL male; 54 mm SL female; stream Akgüney. Photo by: Cüneyt Kaya.

Figure 3. Phoxinus kottelati, FFR 2328: holotype, 49 mm SL, male; Türkiye: stream Koca.

Figure 4. Phoxinus kottelati, from top, FFR 2323, 57 mm SL, male; 55 mm SL, female Türkiye: stream Akgüney.

Figure 5. Phoxinus kottelati, from top: FFR 2310, 48 mm SL female; 49 mm SL male; stream Koca.

Figure 6. Breast scale shape of a. Phoxinus kottelati and P. radeki b. P. strandjae c. P. abanticus (Bayçelebi et al. 2024).