Fish fauna of Aras River

In the scope of this study, actual fish fauna of upper Aras River in Turkey re-examined. Because of the overestimated records by previous researchers, exact fish fauna in the area was not clear. In order to clarify this situation and reveal actual fish species of Aras River in Turkey, fish samples of each species of the genus were obtained from Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Fisheries Collection and collected from fieldworks were conducted in the area. Acipenser persicus, Alburnus chalcoides, Alosa caspia, Caspiomyzon wagneri, Gambusia holbrooki, Luciobarbus caspius, Sabanejewia caspia, Sander lucioperca, Squalius orientalis and Stenodus leucichthys omitted from the fish fauna of the upper Aras drainages. The occurence of Alburnus hohenackeri in Turkey was confirmed by fish samples for the first time. In addition, the occurence of Blicca bjoerkna and Rhodeus amarus were firstly confirmed by fish samples in the upper Aras River. The findings of this study indicated that 24 fish species inhabiting in upper Aras river drainages.