New Data on the Distribution and Conservation Status of the Two Endemic Scrapers in the Turkish Mediterranean Sea Drainages (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

In the scope of this study, exact distribution of the two endemic Capoeta species in the Turkish Mediterranean Sea drainages was presented. Fishes were caught with pulsed DC electro-fishing equipment from 28 sampling sites throughout Turkish Mediterranean Sea drainages between Göksu River and stream Boğa. The findings of the study demonstrate that Capoeta antalyensis inhabits in Köprüçay and Aksu rivers, and streams Boğa and Gündoğdu, all around Antalya. Capoeta caelestis widely distributed in coastal stream and rivers between Stream Dim (Alanya) in the west and Göksu River (Silifke) in the east. Metric and meristic characters were collected from the fish samples which obtained in the field for Capoeta caelestis and Capoeta antalyensis, and museum material for Capoeta damascina. In this way, morphologic features of the species revealed and Capoeta caelestis compared with Capoeta damascina to remove the hesitations about the validity of the species. The conservation status of Capoeta antalyensis was recommended to uplist from Vulnerable to Endangered.