Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Leuciscinae
Etymology: Iberochondrostoma: Name referring to the Iberian Peninsula where the genus is distributed.; almacai: Named for Carlos Almaça, for his contributions on differentiation patterns and evolutionary processes of Euro-Mediterranean cyprinids.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Subtropical, preferred ?
Europe: southern Portugal (Mira, Arade and Bensafrim drainages).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 14.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55426); max. reported age: 4 years (Ref. 55426)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 3;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 7-8;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 7 - 8. Diagnosis: Lateral line scales (45)47-51(53); above lateral line 10.5-11.5 (12); right pharyngeal teeth (4) 5. In comparison to C. lusitanicum, Chondrostoma almacai has a higher mean number of scales on the lateral line and above the lateral line, a smaller number of right pharyngeal teeth, a smaller head, but a larger snout and eye. There is one allozyme diagnostic locus, PGDH, with the presence of two exclusive and fixed alleles for Chondrostoma almacai (Ref. 55426).
The new species is a rheophilic fish, inhabiting Mediterranean-type streams that have typical seasonal habitat heterogeneity, and low to medium flowing clear waters. The species has a short life-span living up to four (4) years, and becomes sexually mature early at the age of two years, irrespective of sex. However, 81.5% of males are mature at 70-80 mm total length, whereas only 50% of females are mature at 80-90 mm total length. Magalhães (2002) also noticed high fecundity, apparently strongly correlated with total body length, with estimates of up to 3,999 eggs at 100 mm total length; egg size ranges from 1.12 to 1.43 mm and is independent of total body length. Spawning occurs early in the year, from January to April (Ref. 55426). Breeds in shallow riffle habitats with fast-flowing water. May be confined to very small pools during summer (Ref. 59043).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Coelho, M.M., N. Mesquita and M.J. Collares-Pereira, 2005. Chondrostoma almacai, a new cyprinid species from the southwest of Portugal, Iberian Peninsula. Folia Zool. 54(1-2):201-212. (Ref. 55426)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
More information
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