Acıgöl killifish, Anatolichthys transgrediens
The Acıgöl killifish, Anatolichthys transgrediens is endemic to Lake Acıgöl, Southwest Turkey. The lake is approximately 35m² and is known as the ‘bitter’ lake due to the high sulphate springs that feed into it. The killifish is currently classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threated Species ™ due to its limited range. Invasive species such as the Mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, salt mining, pollution, and agricultural practices have been the main pressures on this species and its habitat. In June 2024, the Acıgöl killifish was given an IUCN Green Status of Critically Depleted with a Species Recovery Score of 15%. The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Hacettepe University and Istanbul Aquarium relocated a population from Lake Acıgöl to Istanbul Aquarium in Sept 2024 to safeguard this species in an ex-situ capacity. This killifish is a priority within the EAZA Cyprinodontidae and Aphaniidae European Endangered Programme (EEP) and is currently cared for in several zoos and aquariums in Europe. Collaborations between Turkish institutions and European Zoos and Aquariums are crucial to protect these insurance populations as their wild counterparts could be lost forever.
Nominated by FFSG Member Alex Cliffe