ICHTHYOFAUNA AND ITS CONSERVATION STATUS OF B�Y�K KARA�AY STREAM, HATAY, TURKEY

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine ichthyofauna of the Büyük Karaçay stream of the River Orontes drainage in Turkey (eastern Mediterranaen basin). As the result of examination of the 911 individuals collected between June 2012 and May 2013, eight fish species belonging to five families have been recorded. Of these, African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), yellow barbel Carasobarbus luteus (Heckel, 1843) and two spot loach Oxynoemacheilus argyrogramma (Heckel, 1847) are new species reported for the ichthyofauna of the Büyük Karaçay stream. Red garra Garra rufa is found to be the predominant species of the stream. Endemic fish species of the stream are Tigris barb Capoeta barroisi, yellow barbel C. luteus, red garra G. rufa and two spot loach O. argyrogramma. Three fish species, i.e. European eel Anguilla anguilla, Mesopotamian barb Capoeta damascina, African catfish C. gariepinus are native. Besides native and endemic species, there is an alien fish species, namely eastern mosquitofish Gambusia affinis, occupying the habitat. Main threats for the fishes of the stream are mostly habitat loss, pollution, water abstraction and alien species.