Orontes nase facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orontes nase
An Orontes nase (labeled "c"), alongside other closely related nases
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Subfamily:	Leuciscinae
Genus:	Chondrostoma
Species:	C. kinzelbachi
Binomial name
Chondrostoma kinzelbachi Krupp, 1985
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The Orontes nase (scientific name: Chondrostoma kinzelbachi) is a type of nase fish. Nases are a group of ray-finned fish that belong to the carp family. This small freshwater fish is special because it is endemic to the Orontes River basin. This means it is naturally found only in that river system, which flows through parts of Turkey and Syria.

Meet the Orontes Nase

The Orontes nase is a fairly small fish. It usually grows to be about 11.8 to 21.6 centimeters (about 4.6 to 8.5 inches) long. Scientists measure fish using their "Standard Length" (SL). This measurement goes from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail fin.

What Makes It Special?

The Orontes nase has unique features that help scientists tell it apart from other nase fish. It has a special number of teeth in its throat, called pharyngeal teeth. It also has certain body features, like how many gill rakers it has. Gill rakers are small, bony parts that help fish filter food from the water. The way its scales are shaped is also unique.

Who Are Its Relatives?

The Orontes nase is closely related to two other nase species: C. ceyhanensis and C. toros. These three fish form a special group found in the eastern Mediterranean Sea region. Another close relative is the Mesopotamian nase (C. regium).

These four species of nase fish separated from their closest relatives about 4.8 million years ago. This happened in the Balkans region. They then developed into different species about 2.5 to 3.0 million years ago. This time period matches when the Anatolian Plateau (a large area of high land in Turkey) was rising.

Why Is It Endangered?

Sadly, the Orontes nase is an endangered species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. In 2013, the IUCN officially listed it as endangered.

Where Did It Go?

The area where the Orontes nase lives has shrunk a lot over the years. It is probably no longer found in Syria at all. This means it has become extirpated (locally extinct) in that country.

Threats to Its Home

The main reasons for the Orontes nase's decline are problems in its river home.

• Overfishing: People have caught too many of these fish.
• Pollution: The waterways are getting dirty from pollution.
• Less Water: The rivers are also threatened by less rainfall. This problem is made worse by climate change, which affects weather patterns.

The two waterways where the Orontes nase is still known to live are also facing these same threats. Protecting these areas is very important for the future of this unique fish.