Marmara Barbel

This species is distinguished from its congeners in Turkey and the Aegean basin by possessing a lower lip without median lobe (vs. present) and a longer and pointed snout. It is further distinct by having the following characters (none unique to the species): medium body size (up to 35.0 cm SL); specimens over 10.0 cm SL have large and many irregular dark brown spots on the back, as well as on the flanks, but none on the head; some smaller specimens lack the dark brown spots; fleshy lips; lower lip with no median lobe but with two small notches and a squarish fleshy median pad; lateral line scales 53-62; scale rows between the lateral line and the dorsal-fin origin 11-13 and between the lateral line and the anal-fin origin 7-9; gill rakers on the first gill arch 11-14 (modally 12); the last simple ray of the dorsal fin is moderately ossified, and with 30-34 serrae on the proximal ¾ of the posterior margin; body depth 18.8-24.1 % SL at dorsal-fin origin; head length 27.0-29.8 % SL (Ref. 80049).Description: D 4 simple, 8.5 branched rays; A 3 simple and 5.5 branched rays; V 1 simple and 8 branched rays (Ref. 80049).

Vertebrae: 46 - 47

Occurs in swift flowing water, with stone and pebble bottom and collected together with the following species: Alburnoides bipunctatus, Alburnus cf. carinatus, Barbus niluferensis, Rhodeus amarus, Squalius cii, Vimba vimba, Cobitis puncticulata, Cobitis fahirae, and Proterorhinus semilunaris (ref. 80049).

The Marmara barbel (Barbus oligolepis) is a species of cyprinid fish endemic to Turkey where it is only known from fast flowing waters with substrates of stones or pebbles. This species can reach a length of 35 centimetres (14 in) SL.