Parachondrostoma turiense

Chondrostoma turiense
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Genus:	Parachondrostoma
Species:	P. turiense
Binomial name
Parachondrostoma turiense (Elvira, 1987)

Parachondrostoma turiense is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is found only in Spain. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

Elongated body with relatively small head and mouth situated on the bottom. Usually not exceed 300 mm total length. The bottom lip is thick and has a curved-shaped lamina cornea, unlike the Iberian Nase whose lamina cornea is straight. Caudal peduncle long and narrow. The fins are long, the dorsal one has 8 branched rays and anal one 8 to 10. The scales are large and 44 to 45. The number of pharyngeal teeth more frequent is 6-5 and rarely 6-6.

Habitat and ecology

It is a species typically lives in running water but can survive in still waters and even in reservoirs where it can be traced upstream in the breeding season.

Reproduction

Almost no information on the species. We only know that reaches back rivers to the upper for spawning and that it takes place between March and May in shallow water with stone or gravel.

Distribution

It is endemic to the Iberian peninsula, been present in the basins of the rivers Turia and Mijares.

Factors of threat

• About the species: the introduction of exotic species, most fish-eating in the Spanish rivers is the main threat. • On the habitat: the main threats are: the completion of various water-related infrastructure such as pipelines, dams, etc., Pollution from industrial urban and agricultural discharges, water withdrawals for agriculture and the extraction of aggregates that destroys spawning.

Conservation measures

Control of the discharge and treatment of them. Adequately correct the impacts of water infrastructure. Do not make irrigation concessions when water go down to lower levels suitable for fish life. Address the impact of aggregate extraction in rivers and only give the necessary concessions. Perform control of alien species by the government. Preventing the introduction of new alien species stating the new and most existing ones already in Spain like not fishable. Tracking the evolution of populations of this species.

References

Bibliography

• Crivelli, A.J. 2005. Chondrostoma turiense. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 July 2007.