The first record of pectoral and pelvic fins deformity in the freshwater blenny Salaria fluviatilis (Pisces: Blenniidae) collected from Kızılırmak River, Turkey

Abstract

The freshwater blenny Salaria fluviatilis (Asso y del Rio, 1801) is a freshwater species that favors demersal environments. Individuals of this species live in rivers and brooks of Europe, North Africa and Israel. Three specimens of S. fluviatilis (TL 80.82 mm, 60.98 mm and 64.14 mm) collected from Kızılırmak River – Kesikköprü Bridge, Turkey during July 2021 showed deformities in both pectoral and pelvic fins. Degeneration was noted in the pectoral fin rays particularly the last ventral two soft rays (soft ray no. 13 and 14 counting from dorsal to ventral). They also look smaller than those in the normal specimen do. The degeneration in the soft ray no. 13 is less severe than soft ray no. 14. The x-ray of the abnormal specimen showed no other pectoral fin rays were deformed and the pectoral girdle was normal. In both specimens of S. fluviatilis that showed pelvic fin rays degeneration, the whole left pelvic fin and the right pelvic fin were completely degenerated and no soft rays are present. The possible causative factors of these anomalies are discussed. Our finding highlights the need for closer monitoring of the freshwater environment and for the identification of the specific factor that caused these abnormalities.