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Mitt. hamb. zool. Mus. Inst. Band 92 S. 149-154 Hamburg, November 1995
ISSN 0072 9612
Leuciscus kurui, a New Cyprinid Fish from the
Upper Tigris (Dicle) System
N.G. BOGUTSKAYA
ABSTRACT: A new leuciscine cyprinid, Leuciscus kurui, is described from the Yüksekova
süyü, in the system of the Great Zab, a left bank tributary of the Upper Tigris (Dicle) in
Southeastern Turkey. It is distinguished from other members of the genus by a pharyngeal
tooth formula of 2.5-4.2 or 1.5-4.2, an extremely reduced oval postcleithrum, III 9 dorsal fin
rays, III 9-11 anal fin rays, a complete or narrowly interrupted lateral line with 50-57 scales,
39 or 40 total vertebrae and an obscure lateral band on the flanks. It appears to be most closely
related to Leuciscus ulanus GÜNTHER, an Urmia (Reza'iyeh) Lake species.
KEYWORDS: Cyprinidae, Leuciscinae, Leuciscus, taxonomy, Turkey.
Introduction
Cyprinid fishes of the genus Leuciscus CUVIER, 1817 which includes about 35
species are widely distributed throughout Eurasia from the Iberian Peninsula to the
Amur River and from the Kolyma River to the Tigris - Euphrates basin. In South-
Western Asia this genus is considered to be represented by L. borysthenicus (Kess-
LER, 1859), L. smyrnaeus BOULENGER, 1859, L. cephaloides BATTALGIL, 1899,
L. cephalus (L., 1758), L. spurius (HECKEL, 1843), L. lepidus (HECKEL, 1843),
L. ulanus GÜNTHER, 1899 and L. gaderanus GÜNTHER, 1899, but only L. cephalus and
L. lepidus are reported from the Tigris-Euphrates basin (LADIGES, 1960; KHALAF,
1961, BECKMANN, 1962; SAADATI, 1977; KURU, 1979, 1980; GOAD, 1980, 1991; KRUPP,
1985). A single Leuciscus species, L. cephalus, was found in the Upper Tigris (Dicle)
system in Southeastern Turkey (KURU, 1979). However, in the fish collection of the
Zoologisches Museum, Universität Hamburg, there are deposited four specimens
collected by Dr. M. KURU in the Dicle system in 1974 and identified by Dr. C. KOSSWIG
as Leuciscus cf. cephalus which cannot be assigned to L. cephalus. A comparison
with the known Leuciscus species (for material see, for example, BOGUTSKAYA 1994)
and related genera shows that these specimens represent a new species of the genus
Leuciscus.
Material and Methods
The description is based on four specimens deposited in the Zoologisches Museum,
Universität Hamburg. Measurements follow HUBBS and LAGLER (1958).
The last two branched rays in both the dorsal and anal fins are counted as two, not one
ray. The total number of vertebrae includes 4 Weberian vertebrae and the fused preural-ural
centrum as the last one. Pore counts were made from both left and right sides of the head; the
number of canal openings of an individual bone includes entry and exit ones.
The fish drawing was made by A. NASEKA, Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg.
The following abbreviations are used: BMNH, Bridsh Museum (Natural History),
London, now the Natural History Museum; NMC, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa;
ZISP, Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg; ZMH, Zoologisches Museum, Universität Ham-
burg.
150 N.G. BOGUTSKAYA
Taxonomy
Family Cyprinidae
Genus Leuciscus
Leuciscus kurui sp.n. (Fig. 1)
Holotype: Male, 83.0 mm SL, ZMH 7361, 17 June 1974, coll. M. KURU, Yüksekova süyü
(Dicle system) Yüksekova, Turkey.
Paratypes: (3 specimens), 78.6 - 85.8 mm SL, ZMH 8413, the same locality, date and
collector as the holotype.
Etymology: Named after Dr. MUSTAFA KURU, a Turkish ichthyologist, who collected the
specimens described herein as a new species.
Diagnosis: A distinctive member of the genus Leuciscus, characterized by a
pharyngeai tooth formula of 2.5-4.2 or 1.5-4.2 and an extremely reduced oval
postcleithrum. Dorsal fin rays III 9, anal fin rays III 9- 11, gill rakers 11 or 12 on the
whole first arch, lateral line complete or narrowly interrupted in some places, 1.1. 50-
57, sq.l. 53-58, total vertebrae 39 or 40, and flanks with an obscure lateral band.
Description: Some meristic and morphometric data are given in Table 1. General
body shape is shown in Fig. 1. The body is slightly compressed laterally. Head length
(27.1 - 28.7 % SL) is about equal to maximum body depth (25.6 - 28.0 % SL). The
upper head profile is slightly convex and the snout is rounded. The head is not wide;
head width at nape (52.4 - 55.7 % Ic) is markedly smaller than head depth here (65.9
- 69.4 % Ic). The mouth is oblique, rather short. The tip of the mouth cleft is on the
level of the inferior margin of the pupil; the posterior end of the upper jaw reaches
the vertical through the middle of the nostril; the lower jaw-quadrate joint lies in front
of or below the anterior margin of the eye.
The dorsal fin has 3 unbranched and 9 branched rays; its origin is somewhat
posterior to the vertical from the posterior end of the ventral fin base. The dorsal fin
margin is almost straight or slightly convex.
The anal fin has 3 unbranched and 9-11 branched rays. The anal fin origin is
posterior to the end of the dorsal fin base. The anal margin is wavy: convex anteriorly
and concave posteriorly.
Fig. 1. Leuciscus kurui sp.n., left lateral view of male holotype, 83.0 mm SL (ZMH 7361)
Leuciscus kurui, a new cyprinid fish 151
Table 1. Some counts and measurements of Leuciscus kurui sp.n.
Character Holotype Paratypes
ZMH 7361 ZMH 8413
sq.l. 58 53 57 58
1.1. 56 50 53 57
D III9 III9 III9 III9
A III 10 III 10 III 11 III9
Sp.br. 12 12 12 11
Vert 39 40 39 39
SL, mm in % SL 83.0 85.8 78.6 79.6
lc 27.7 27 1 27.4 28.7
H 28.0 25.6 26.8 27.7
h 12.0 11.2 11.5 11.7
pD 57.5 57.9 57.1 59.0
poD 33.5 33 1 34.2 34.7
lpc 17.5 17.2 18.8 18.7
lD 11.0 11.5 12.2 11.8
hD 17.2 17.7 20.1 17.6
1A 10.8 11.9 13.2 10.7
hA 14.0 14.6 15.1 14.6
lP 17.8 16.9 17.9 16.3
lV 14.9 14.0 16.4 14.9
P-V 28.3 27.5 28.0 27.5
V-A in % lc 20.3 20.3 21.0 20.4
hc 67.1 69.4 68.8 65.9
lac 52.4 53.8 55.7 54 1
prO 26.8 26.7 27.9 27.7
Oh 23.4 25.4 23.7 23.6
poO 55.4 53.0 55.8 54.1
io 32.9 34.5 34.9 35.4
lmd 34.2 34.0 34.9 34.1
lmx 26.1 27.6 27.0 28.2
The gill rakers are not long, 11 or 12 in total on whole first left arch. Pharyngeal
teeth are two-rowed, 2.5 – 4.2 or 1.5 – 4.2, markedly hooked and serrated. The
peritoneum is greyish with numerous melanophores.
The scales are regularly arranged on the body. Scale shape is subcircular.
There is a pelvic axillary scale. The lateral line is complete with only 1 or 2 unpored
terminal scales or, in two paratypes, slightly interrupted with 2-4 separate unpored
scales along the lateral line. Number of scales in the lateral line is 50-57, the number of
scales in the lateral series is 53-58. The lateral line is moderately decurved and on
the caudal peduncle runs slightly below the midline. The number of scales above the
lateral line is 9 or 10, and between the lateral line and the ventral fin there are 5
scales.
The scales on the flanks below the dorsal fin have numerous, fine, concentric
circuli and radii on both posterior and anterior fields. The primary radii in both
posterior and anterior fields are long, extending to the scale margin and reaching the
152 N.G. BOGUTSKAYA
focus. Radii counts for ten scales in the holotype are primary anterior radii 6-9 with
mode 8 and primary posterior radii 5-8 with mode 6; the numbers of the short
secondary radii are very variable (2-11). The focus is subcentral and slightly anterior.
The overall topography of the cephalic sensory canals is close to a typical
Leuciscus pattern. It differs from that pattern in two specimens on both sides by a
shortened supraorbital canal (CSO) which lacks the parietal segment terminating at
the anterior parietal border or shortly coming onto the parietal but without a fronto-
parietal pore. In two specimens on both sides the patterndiffers in having an
incomplete preopercular-mandibular canal (CPM) which is narrowly interrupted
between the lower jaw (anguloarticular) and the preoperculum in three cases and
between the dental and anguloarticular, and the latter and preoperculum in one case.
The infraorbital canal (CIO) and CPM are interconnected in the pterotic, CPM
passing through the antero-dorsal opercular process. The supratemporal canal (CST)
is complete in all cases. The number of cephalic sensory pores is comparatively low:
(7,8)9(11) pores in CSO with 2-4 nasal and (5)6,7 frontal openings; 14-16 pores in
CIO with 4(5) openings in the 1st infraorbital; 13-17 pores in CPM when complete
and /5-7/ + /10-12/ pores when incomplete with (3)4,5 dental, 2 or 3 anguloarticular
and (7)9-11 preopercular openings; 5-8 pores in CST. The canaliculi are mostly
reduced.
The total number of vertebrae is 39 or 40; the number of abdominal (precaudal)
vertebrae including the Weberian and intermediate ones is 22 (in three specimens)
or 23, the number of caudal vertebrae is 17, so the vertebral formula is 22+17 or
23+17 (in one specimen). The number of predorsal vertebrae (in front of the first
dorsal pterygophore) is 14 or 15, the number of intermediate vertebrae is 3 or 4.
The other osteological characters available from the undissected specimens and
the radiographs are as follows. Maximum cranial width between the lateral margins
of the pterotics (Lt pto) is 67.8 - 74.2 % of cranial roof length (L cr. r.). The
supraethmoid is relatively small, its width being 25.2 - 30.1 % Lt pto. The
neurocranium is moderately deep, with an angled parasphenoid and a well-defined
interorbital septum of the orbitosphenoid. The pharyngeal process has a laterally
compressed deep posterior portion. The length of the lower jaw (34.0 - 35.1 % lc) is
markedly smaller than the opercular depth (39.5 - 42.1 % le). The supraorbital is
moderately deep and long, its length is about 25 % L cr. r.. The 2nd - 4th infraorbitals
are narrow. The 5th infraorbital is absent in three cases; if present, it is tube-like or
has a very narrow lamellate portion.
The postcleithrum is reduced to a very small, laterally compressed oval bone
with a rounded lower end; it almost entirely adjoins the posterior corner of the
cleithrum along its ascending margin. The 2nd and 3rd vertebrae are not fused.
Specimens preserved in 70 % ethanol have the following pigmentation. The
body is brownish dark on the back, upper flanks and head are cream coloured on the
belly. An obscure, straight lateral band extends from the tail base anteriorly to the
head. All fins are pale.
Comparative remarks and relationships: Besides the tooth formula and
postcleithrum shape and size, Leuciscus kurui sp.n. can easily be distinguished from
the other Leuciscus species distributed in the Tigris-Euphrates system and the
neighbouring areas - L. cephalus, L. spurius and L. lepidus - by general shape of the
head and snout and short jaws. In the three species mentioned, the supraethmoid
width is larger (usually markedly larger) than 31 % Lt pto; the cranial width (Lt pto)
Leuciscus kurui, a new cyprinid fish 153
is larger than 74-76 % L cr. r. (68-82 % L cr. r. in L. lepidus overlapping the
measurement of L. kurui sp.n. but L. lepidus strongly differs by a long pointed snout
and a long lower jaw); and the lower jaw length is larger than the opercular depth.
L. kurui sp.n. also differs from L. spurius and L. lepidus by the number of total and
abdominal vertebrae (41-46 and 23-26 respectively in the two mentioned species)
and from L. lepidus and L. cephalus by low cephalic pore counts (cf. 21-28(30) CIO
pores with 7-11 1st infraorbital openings and 17-23 CIO pores with (5)6-8(9) 1st
infraorbital openings respectively in the latter species).
The limits and definition of the genus Leuciscus are rather questionable. It is a
polytypic taxon which includes 30-35 species some of them forming distinct groups
different from the nucleus of Leuciscus and demonstrating closer relationships to the
other genera of the Leuciscinae, for example, the "L. cephalus s.l. -L. lepidus" group
which is related to the tribe Aspinini or "L. borysthenicus" group which deviates
towards Ladigesocypris and Pseudophoxinus (BOGUTSKAYA, 1994). I have placed the
new species in Leuciscus on the basis of its general sensory canal pattern, the fin ray
counts and number of tooth rows. However, L. kurui sp.n. differs from most Leuciscus
in possessing 5 (left) and 4 (right) teeth in a long row, a state seldom met in the other
Leuciscus species where there are usually 5 teeth in a long row on both left and right
ceratobranchials, and a postcleithrum reduced in size, laterally compressed, oval,
almost entirely overlapped by the cleithrum in contrast to the typical Leuciscus
condition where the postcleithrum is more or less long, thin, rod-like with ventrally
extending, pointed free portion.
The Leuciscus species which is the closest to L. kurui sp.n. is L. ulanus
GÜNTHER * (only two syntypes, BMNH 1984.10.10: 1-2, were examined). This
species, distributed in the Lake Urmia (Reza'iyeh) basin and L. kurui sp.n. share such
specializations as 4 teeth in a long row on the right ceratobranchial, a lateral band,
a reduced postcleithrum (though pointed in L. ulanus), a narrow supraethmoid (its
width is 25 % Lt pto in L. ulanus). L. ulanus also resembles L. kurui sp.n. in having
8 or 9 dorsal and 11 anal branched rays, 12 or 13 gill rakers, 14 predorsal and 17 or
18 caudal vertebrae but differs by larger scales (1.1.44), lower number (21) of
abdominal vertebrae, shorter but relatively deeper head (lc 24 % SL, poO 50 % lc; hc
74.5 % lc, opercular depth 44 % lc). Both L. kurui sp.n. and L. ulanus have reduced
sensory pore counts, a deep neurocranium with an angled parasphenoid and a
normally developed interorbital septum, narrow the 4th and 5th infraorbitals, short
jaws and a deep operculum, the characters in common with the "L. borsysthenicus"
group but markedly different from those typical for the "L.cephalus s.l. - L. lepidus"
group.
The close tooth formula, 1.5 - 4.1, is found in Pseudophoxinus persidis COAD
from Fars, Southern Iran, which is the only member of Pseudophoxinus with two-
rowed pharyngeal teeth and Leuciscus-like sensory canal pattern. However, L. kurui
sp.n. differs from P. persidis in most other characters, in particular, head shape and
size, lateral line and vertebral counts (see in COAD, 1981).
As to the Tigris system, a manuscript species, Phoxinellus sp., is reported from
the Bid Sorkh River (SAADATI, 1977) which is close to L. kurui sp.n. in dorsal and anal
fin counts (9 or 10 branched rays in both fins), number of scales in a complete lateral
_______________________
* The specimens described in the previous publication (BOGUTSKAYA, 1994) as L. ulanus (ZISP
26869, Nazlu-tchai) were actually misidentified, for, at that time, I had not examined the type-
material of L. ulanus GÜNTHER.
154 N.G. BOGUTSKAYA
line (47-56) and head size (lc 24 - 26 % SL) but differs by long numerous (20) gill
rakers. No other comments can be done at present on this species. The specimens of
Phoxinellus sp. were not found by Dr. B.W COAD in SAADATI'S material in the
University of Colorado, Fort Collins (B. W. COAD, pers. comm., 1994).
Distribution: Leuciscus kurui sp.n. is known from only one locality, Yüksekova
süyü at Yüksekova, east of the city of Hakkari. Yüksekova süyü belongs to the system of
the Great Zab, a left bank tributary of the Upper Tigris (Dicle) in Southeastern
Turkey.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I am greatly indebted to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
which provided funds for work with the fish collection in the Zoologisches Museum,
Universitat Hamburg in 1991-1992. My sincere thanks go to Dr. Prof. H. WILKENS, curator of
this collection, and Mrs. R. DOHSE for their kind assistance. I would also like to thank Dr.
B.W.COAD, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, for his helpful comments on the manuscript
and revising my English.
References
BECKMAN W.C., 1962: Freshwater fishes of Syria and their general biology and management.
- FAO Fish. Biol. Tech. Paper, 8: 297 p. BOGUTSKAYA, N.G., 1994: A description of
Leuciscus lepidus (HECKEL 1843) with comments
on Leuciscus and leuciscine-aspinine relationships (Cyprinidae, Pisces). - Ann. Naturhist.
Mus. Wien, 96B: 599-620. COAD B.W., 1980: A provisional, annotated check-list of
the freshwater fishes of Iran. - J.
Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 76 (1) (1979): 86-105.
— , 1981: Pseudophoxinus persidis, a new cyprinid fish from Fars, southern Iran. - Can.
J. Zool., 59 (11): 2058-2063.
— , 1991: Fishes of the Tigris-Euphrates basin: a critical check-list. - Can. Mus. Nat.
Syllogeus, 68: 1-49.
HUBBS C.L., LAGLER K.F., 1958: Fishes of the Great Lakes Region. Univ. Michigan Press, Ann
Arbour: 213 p. KHALAF K,T., 1961: The marine and freshwater fishes of Iraq. Ar-
Rabitta Press, Baghdad:
164 p. KRUPP F., 1985: Systematik und Zoogeographie der Suswasserfische des
levantinischen
Grabenbruchsystems und der Ostkuste des Mittelmeers. Dissertation V. 1, 2 Mainz
215+169 p. KURU M., 19179: The fresh water fish of South-Eastern Turkey
(Euphrates-Tigris system). -
Hacettepe Bull. Nat. Sci. Engineering, 7-8 (1978-1979): 105-114
— , 1980: Catalogue of freshwater fishes of Turkey. Fauna of Turkey, ser 12. Pisces.
Hacettepe Univ , Beytepe: 73 p
LADIGES W., 1960: Suswasserfische der Turkei. 1. Teil. Cyprinidae. - Mitt. Hamb. Zool. Mus.
Inst., 58: 105-150. SAADATI M.A., 1977: Taxonomy and distribution of the freshwater
fishes of Iran. M.S. thesis,
Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins: 212 p.
Manuscript accepted for publication 3rd May 1995
Author's address:
Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199034 Russia.
