Leucos albus Maric 2010
Creators: name: Bianco, Pier Giorgio
name: Ketmaier, Valerio
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Cypriniformes
Cyprinidae
Leucos
Leucos albus

description: Leucos albus Marić, 2010
(Fig. 2 E)
Rutilus albus Marić, 2010: 153 (type locality, Lake Skadar, Montenegro).
Examined materials. IZA 0 421, 2, Montenegro, R. Moraca at the confluence with R. Zeta, D. Maríc and P.G. Bianco, 11 November 1999 (specimens also tested molecularly by Ketmaier et al. (2008).- IZA 0 469, 7, 58, Republic of Montenegro, R. Zeta, 13 November 1999, P.G. Bianco and D. Marić.
Diagnosis. This species was recently described by Marić (2010). Here we provide a short diagnosis according to our materials from the Moraca-Zeta river system, which flows into the Lake Skadar; the species is not reported for that rivers (Marić, 2010). Leucos albus can be distinguished from L. basak, its closest relative genetically (see Fig. 1 B), for the number of LL pored scales (41–44 in Leucos albus 37–39 in L. basak) and for the modal number of branched rays in the D (9 in L. basak, 8 in L. albus). Flanks are silvery, without lateral bands as observed in L. aula.
Description. A small-medium sized species, not exceeding 190 mm SL, usually 80–120 mm SL. Body uniformly silvery without longitudinal band; color of eye in living fish, yellowish; fins yellowish or pale grayish in preserved specimens; snout pointed, pre-orbital distance near equal to the horizontal diameter of the eye; lips smooth; mouth opening oblique, the corner of maxillae slightly protruded and at level with the vertical crossing of the anterior border of the orbit; mouth slightly inferior; profile of dorsum convex; paired and unpaired fins yellowish; free margin of dorsal and anal fins concave; caudal fin forked; peritoneal membrane blackened by several melanophores addensed and fused; head length more than 3.8–4.0 times in the SL; body deep about 3.6–3.8 times in the SL; origin of the D at same level of the insertion of the P2; LL complete, and extending from the margin of opercular membrane, to the end of caudal peduncle; 41–44 pored scales, usually 41–42; 7.5 above and 3.5 below the LL; constantly 3 un-branched rays followed by 8 branched rays in the D; constantly 3 un-branched and usually 8 branched rays in the anal fin; P1s with 1 un-branched and 14–15 branched rays; P2 with 1 unbranched ray and constantly 8 branched rays; usually 8–9 total GR; in adult males prominent or vestigial tubercles absent. The specimens from River Moraca differ from those from Lake Skadar for a more pointed snout and slender body. For additional description and shape, see Fig. 2 E and Tables 1, 2.
Distribution. L. albus is originally described from Lake Skadar (Montenegro): it is quite rare in the lake, but seasonally frequent in submerged springs (Marić, 2010). We also found the species in Zeta and Moraca river system, both flowing into Lake Skadar. The species was found together with Salmo sp, Telestes montenegrinus and Phoxinus phoxinus, all cold-water adapted species. The species, which seems riverine adapted, is steadily declining both in rivers Moraca and Zeta mainly due to illegal fishing of trout (Drago Marić, pers. comm.). The scarce material we obtained (nine specimens) is the result of extensive sampling efforts by electro fishing between 9 and 13 November 1999.
Remarks on ecology, biology and conservation. According to Maríc (2010), the preferential habitats are the sub-lacustrine springs of Lake Skadar, where large numbers of fish gather during the winter period. We found also a riverine sample. Leuco albus coexists with L. basak in Lake Skadar. The proportion between Leucos albus and L. basak is 20: 1 in favor of the second. Spawning season starts in January but in February females have spent gonads. Leucos albus spawns earlier in the season than L. basak. Still not evaluated by IUCN International commission, but according to the IUCN (2012) category, it satisfy to the point B of the “Endangered Category”, as the area of occupancy is less than 500 km 2 and the species is known only from one basin (Lake Skadar and the river flowing into it), which continues to decline as a result of habitat alteration (Marić, 2010).
description: Published as part of Bianco, Pier Giorgio & Ketmaier, Valerio, 2014, A revision of the Rutilus complex from Mediterranean Europe with description of a new genus, Sarmarutilus, and a new species, Rutilus stoumboudae (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), pp. 379-402 in Zootaxa 3841 (3) on pages 391-392, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3841.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/225778