Investigation of taxonomic features of barbus and luciobarbus (pisces: Cyprinidae) genera in West Anatolia

In this study; taxonomic characteristics of the species of Barbus and Luciobarbus genus, which are still under discussion in some species in Europe and Turkey, have been investigated. The samples were collected from 82 sampling points in the region between Sakarya River in the north and Eşen Stream (Antalya-Muğla) in the south-west of Turkey. The species were identified based on 28 metric and 10 meristic characters. In addition, osteological differentiation between the species was determined by drawing the shapes of some bones (dentale, premaxilla, maxilla, operculum and circumcorbital bones) and determining the number of vertebrae from x-ray films. 249 fish specimens belonging to Barbus genus spreading in the western part of Anatolia were examined. Barbus oligolepis, Barbus pergamonensis, Barbus niluferensis and Barbus escherichii species were found. The populations described in the Büyük Menederes River, Yuvarlakçay, Eşen, Dalaman and Tersakan streams were given as Barbus sp. for thought to be a possible new species. Luciobarbus lydianus and Luciobarbus kottelati were found in 48 fish specimens of the genus Luciobarbus. It was determined that these species differ significantly with the position of the dorsal fin to the pelvic fin and barbel structure. In addition, the limits of the distribution areas of the species, their densities in habitats and threats were determined and "Conservation status" was proposed according to the "IUCN-Red List" criteria.