Saz Baligi
Encyclopedia
The Saz Baligi is an enigmatic and possibly extinct ray-finned fish species
in the family
Cyprinidae. Some list it under its original scientific name Tylognathus klatti, but "Tylognathus
" is nowadays recognized as a polyphyletic assemblage of Labeoninae
(Labeonini of other authors) and other cyprinids. FishBase
places the Saz Baligi in Crossocheilus
, while others consider it a species of Hemigrammocapoeta
and in some cases synonymous with H. kemali
.
It is only known from the type, caught in Lake Eğirdir
(Turkey
) in the mid-20th century. It is not known whether it occurs elsewhere, and no such fishes have been found in recent surveys of the lake. Capoeta pestai, a small cyprinid endemic to Lake Eğirdir, is listed as Critically Endangered
by the IUCN, mainly due to predation by the introduced
Zander
(Sander lucioperca). Consequently, the Saz Baligi might be extinct. It might also occur elsewhere, however, or simply be a misidentified specimen of the Critically Endangered H. kemali which is found in Lake Akgöl and Gölcük as well as in Eregili Marsh in the same general region as Lake Eğirdir. The validity as a distinct species and the affiliations of the Saz Baligi need to be resolved before more any assumptions on its status can be made. It is therefore classified as Data Deficient
by the IUCN.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Cyprinidae. Some list it under its original scientific name Tylognathus klatti, but "Tylognathus
Tylognathus
Tylognathus is an invalid genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Cyprinidae. It was established by Heckel in 1843 without a type species. As type species, Varicorhinus diplostomus was designated by Bleeker in 1863; this had been described by Heckel in 1838, and was erroneously described again by...
" is nowadays recognized as a polyphyletic assemblage of Labeoninae
Labeoninae
Labeoninae is a doubtfully distinct subfamily of ray-finned fishes in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. They inhabit freshwater and are most abundant in the region around southern China. They are a generally very apomorphic group, perhaps the most "advanced" of the Cyprinidae...
(Labeonini of other authors) and other cyprinids. FishBase
FishBase
FishBase is a comprehensive database of information about fish species . It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web...
places the Saz Baligi in Crossocheilus
Crossocheilus
Crossocheilus is a genus of cyprinid fish that occur in Asia. There are currently 16 recognized species.-Species:* Crossocheilus atrilimes Kottelat, 2000* Crossocheilus burmanicus Hora, 1936* Crossocheilus caudomaculatus...
, while others consider it a species of Hemigrammocapoeta
Hemigrammocapoeta
Hemigrammocapoeta is a small ray-finned fish genus of the family Cyprinidae.- Species :It contains the following species:* Hemigrammocapoeta culiciphaga Pellegrin, 1927* Hemigrammocapoeta elegans...
and in some cases synonymous with H. kemali
Hemigrammocapoeta kemali
Hemigrammocapoeta kemali is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family.It is found only in Turkey.Its natural habitats are swamps and freshwater lakes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
.
It is only known from the type, caught in Lake Eğirdir
Lake Egirdir
Eğirdir is the name of a lake and of the town situated on the shore of that lake in Turkey. The lake lies in the Turkish Lakes Region and is 186 kilometers north of Antalya...
(Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) in the mid-20th century. It is not known whether it occurs elsewhere, and no such fishes have been found in recent surveys of the lake. Capoeta pestai, a small cyprinid endemic to Lake Eğirdir, is listed as Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. Critically Endangered means that a species' numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations....
by the IUCN, mainly due to predation by the introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
Zander
Zander
Zander is a species of fish. The scientific name is Sander lucioperca , and it is closely allied to perch. Zander are often called pike-perch as they resemble the pike with their elongated body and head, and the perch with their spiny dorsal fin. Zander are not, as is commonly believed, a pike and...
(Sander lucioperca). Consequently, the Saz Baligi might be extinct. It might also occur elsewhere, however, or simply be a misidentified specimen of the Critically Endangered H. kemali which is found in Lake Akgöl and Gölcük as well as in Eregili Marsh in the same general region as Lake Eğirdir. The validity as a distinct species and the affiliations of the Saz Baligi need to be resolved before more any assumptions on its status can be made. It is therefore classified as Data Deficient
Data Deficient
Data Deficient is a category applied by the IUCN, other agencies, and individuals to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made...
by the IUCN.