Kura River Research Articles

Historical drivers and future streamflow variations of the Kura River in the Western Transcaucasia region of Georgia: Analysis of tree-ring chronologies from 1720 to 2021 CE

In this paper, we conduct a dendrochronological study in the Western Transcaucasia region of Georgia to elucidate the relationship between tree growth and climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, and streamflow) in order to reconstruct the paleohydrology of the Kura River and to assess the impacts of climate change on water resources. We analyzed tree-ring chronologies from 1720 to 2021 CE, and analysis of July–August streamflow revealed five wet phases (1739–1753, 1764–1807, 1811–1831, 1962–1988 and 2000–2019 CE ranging in duration from 11 to 49 years) when streamflow exceeded the long-term mean, and four dry phases (1720–1738, 1832–1881, 1936–1961 and 1989–1999 CE) when streamflow was below average. The most extreme wet and dry years were 1771 and 1851 CE, respectively. Spatial correlation patterns of Kura River reconstructed runoff against sea level pressure (SLP) are negative in the Arctic and positive in mid- to high-latitude Eurasia. The Arctic Oscillation (AO)/North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and solar activity are important drivers of hydroclimatic conditions in the Mediterranean region, by modifying the location of high-pressure areas and large-scale atmospheric circulations. Comparison of our Kura streamflow reconstructions and data in the Old World Drought Atlas (OWDA) reveals a moderately positive correlation (0.40) throughout the study period, being strongest over the Southern Caucasus and Eastern Turkey. This validates the drought signals and emphasizes the importance of using multi-proxy approaches, supported by spatially resolved data, to enhance understanding of regional hydroclimatic variability and drought patterns. We additionally conducted future streamflow scenarios, most notably under the high-emission SSP585 scenario, in line with global trends in CMIP6 projections. Our streamflow results indicate a trend towards increasing drought severity, which highlights the need for urgent adaptation and mitigation strategies in water resource management in this region. Ultimately, this study provides valuable information on historical hydroclimatic conditions in the Kura River Basin, which help to develop strategies to mitigate the hydrologic impacts of climate change in the Western Transcaucasia Caucasus region. We further highlight the importance of regional and global teleconnections for understanding regional hydrological dynamics.

Investigation of Urban Heat Island Based on Remote Sensing and GIS

In modern times, cities and cities' economy are the main causes of global problems. For this reason, the study of cities is an urgent issue. Our goal is to study the temperature of the elements of climate in Shirvan, one of the big cities in the Republic of Azerbaijan, and to analyze urban heat islands. Landsat satellite images were decoded and analyzed using Remote Sensing and GIS technologies during the study. It was determined that the surface temperature in the northwestern and western parts of the city is unfavourable for the health of the population in the summer months. At this time, the temperature indicators in the areas of the city close to the banks of the Kura river are quite favourable as a result of the influence of the river. The intensive development of the industry in the city and the large population have caused the energy consumption to be higher than in other areas. The presence of an urban lifestyle and the construction of asphalted roads have led to the creation of urban heat islands.

VARIABILITY OF RADIOCARBON RESERVOIR AGE EFFECTS IN LAKES AND RIVERS IN ANATOLIA AND LESSER CAUCASUS

ABSTRACT Multiproxy sedimentary sequence analysis constitutes the basis for reconstructions of past paleoenvironments and climate evolution. These sequences are, for the most part, obtained by coring in lakes, maars or crater lakes whose waters can record volcanic activity or karstic contributions, especially in Eastern Anatolia and the Lesser Caucasus. The reservoir age effect in these geological contexts leads to an apparent aging of the radiocarbon ages which also affects the plants and animals developing in or near these waters and consequently the population consuming them. We present here some results obtained from modern samples taken from Mediterranean, central and eastern Anatolian lakes, from the Van and Sevan lakes and along the Kura River and its tributaries from the Lesser Caucasus. The effect of volcanic CO2 outgassing in the vicinity of maar crater lakes is also discussed.

Cryptosporidium spp. and Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriorina) of freshwater Cyprinid fish species in the Kura River basin in Azerbaijan territory.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria spp. oocysts in fish specimens in the river Kura. It was conducted during the 2021-2022 at two sites: Mingachevir reservoir in central Azerbaijan and in Neftchala district where the river finally enters the Caspian Sea through a delta of the Kura River estuary. The diagnosis of oocysts was performed microscopically. Fine smears from the intestine epithelial layers stained by Ziehl-Neelsen for Cryptosporidium oocysts. To identify Eimeria oocysts, each fish's faecal material and intestinal scrapings were examined directly under a light microscope in wet samples on glass slides with a coverslip. Results revealed a prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria species infections in fish hosts from both territories Rutilus caspicus, Alburnus filippi, Abramis brama orientalis and Carassius gibelio. Of 170 investigated fish specimens, 8.8% (15/170) were infected with Cryptosporidium species oocysts. Eimeria species oocysts were identified in 20.6% (35/170). The presence of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria infections in fish specimens are natural infections. However, their presence in fish species may be attributed to the age of the fish species and water pollution. This is the first report regarding the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in fish species in Azerbaijan.

Determination of Some Atomic Parameters for Aktaş, Çıldır Lake, and Kura River Water with the Help of WinXCom

In this study, elemental analyses of water samples taken from Aktaş, Çıldır Lake, and Kura River basins in Ardahan province were carried out using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The mass attenuation coefficients, total photon interaction cross sections, effective atomic numbers, and electron densities were determined with the help of WinXCom for the main gamma-ray energies released when Ra-226, which is an important source of natural radiation, decays into Rn-222, Bi-214, and Po-214.

The Current State of Flora and Phytocoenosis Along the Kura River in Mingachevir City (Azerbaijan)

During the geographical analysis of the flora in the area surrounding the city of Mingachevir, situated on the banks of the Kura River in Azerbaijan, a total of 158 species of angiosperms were recorded. These were found to be represented in 28 families and 79 genera. As a result of the analysis, a flora conspectus was prepared. During the conducted research, six types of vegetation were identified along the Kura River in Mingachevir city. These vegetation types include bozghir (dry steppe), semi-desert, halophyte desert, thicket-grass, wetland, and forest. The researchers found that these vegetation types are represented by eight formation classes, nine formation groups, and ten associations. The research included the species composition of the identified formations and carried out geobotanical descriptions. We also evaluated the economic importance of phytocoenosis by determining the main fodder plants and the modern state of the terrestrial flora and phytocoenosis.

Exposition and Slope Relief Indicators of the Tovuzchay-Esrikchay Rivers Basin

The Tovuzchay basin, located on the northeastern slope of the Lesser Caucasus, is surrounded by the Kura River from the north, the Agstafachay basin from the west and the Zayamchay basin from the east. The relief of the basin has an ancient history of development and was formed under the influence of endodynamic processes together with the geological structure. The relief, geological and geomorphological structure of the area were studied in detail by V. Khain, Sh. Azizbekov, L. Leontiev, M. Kashgai and other researchers. Relief plays an important role in determining the direction of land use as the main component of ecosystems and geosystems, and also has a significant impact on human economic activity. The study of relief slope, degree of fragmentation, slope direction, slope and other factors is a morphometric analysis of the terrain, and plasticity maps based on them serve as the basis for agroecological assessment of lands.

Modeling the water regime of the Kura cascade of reservoirs in the Republic of Azerbaijan

This study was conducted in connection with the recent increasing attention to saving water resources in Azerbaijan and to studying the condition of the largest cascade of reservoirs on the Kura River. The article highlights some aspects of hydrological modeling of this cascade. Modeling occurs in several stages: an orographic scheme is created, a system of differential equations compiled on the basis of this scheme is solved, and the results are displayed. To carry out the simulation, a program was developed in the MATLAB environment. The program works in 2 modes – design and working. In the design mode, an orographic diagram is created, including the main objects of the cascade (reservoirs, rivers, canals) and their parameters are set (volume, water transfer, geodata about location). The program allows you to edit and add objects. When switching to the operating mode, according to the selected model, a system of differential equations is created corresponding to the current orographic scheme. The number of equations is equal to the number of reservoirs in the cascade. The equations are solved using MATLAB. The solution is carried out sequentially, starting from the first equation of the system. Then the results found are substituted into the 2nd equation. With each subsequent equation its complexity increases. The results are displayed in the form of obtained formulas and in the form of graphs reflecting the state of the cascade. Thus, the developed program has the ability to carry out visual design, and can also be successfully used to model similar reservoir cascades.

ASSESSMENT OF THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE KARABAGH-MIL PLAIN

Mil-Karabagh plain, the studied territory, located to the north-east from the piedmont of the Lesser Caucasus. The main irrigation canals of the region, including the bed of the Yukhari-Karabagh canal, have high water permeability, as they are built from local soils. This ensures that surface and underground waters interact, feeding each other along the flow. The amount of precipitation in different parts of the Karabagh plain was 370-453 mm, and they fall unevenly in different seasons. Thus, the maximum amount of precipitation is observed in autumn and spring, and the minimum amount of precipitation is observed in winter and summer. There are 6 aquifers (water-bearing horizons) in the upper part of the Mil plain: 1 underground, 5 confined aquifers. The underground and three confined aquifers are associated with the Quaternary period, the fourth aquifer is associated with the Absheron, and the fifth with Aghjagil stages sedimentary rocks. The variability of the level mode is fully studied here. Sources of formation of underground water resources and methods of their effective use have been identified to a sufficient level. The horizon of underground waters and water strikes form a single water horizon in the elevated parts of river tributaries. The water deposits mentioned here are composed of boulder-gravel-pebble stones according to their lithological composition, clay and clayey deposits are rare. These deposits are found at depths of up to 110 m and more. The degree of natural drainage of the territory is one of the main factors influencing soil reclamation, depending on the geological structure, geomorphological conditions and features of the relief. The Karabagh irrigation massif is served by the Mil-Karabagh reservoir. Which discharges drainage water with an average mineralization of 12.7 g/l to 200 million m3 per year. Occurrence depth of the groundwater within the territory of the Karabagh irrigation massif 0-10 m and deeper from surface. There is a tendency to decrease the depth of groundwater in the area from the south-west to the north-east, i.e. from the piedmont to the Kura river. Keywords: underground water, rural economy, drainage, water strikes, hydrogeological basin.

The record of Ametropus fragilis Albarda, 1878 (Ephemeroptera, Ametropodidae) from Georgia

The representatives of the genus Ametropus (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) were recorded 80 years ago in Georgia. Due to the taxonomic uncertainty, the recorded specimens were considered potentially new taxa. Since then, no other record of Ametropus has been documented from the whole South Caucasus and its nearby regions further south. In the present contribution, we provide a new record of Ametropus from the Alazani River (Kura River Basin, Georgia). Morphological and DNA barcoding of the COI gene fragment showed that the species belongs to the widespread Holarctic species A. fragilis. Morpho-anatomical characteristics also confirmed the high degree of similarity between the newly recorded specimens and those once recorded 80 years ago. In addition, the COI barcode showed a strikingly closer relationship between Caucasian A. fragilis and North American A. neavei (3.54% divergence) compared to Caucasian and European A. fragilis populations (4.3% divergence). The observed pattern clearly indicates the need for further and more thorough revision of the Ametropus species complex in the Holarctic region.

Biological characteristics of main commercial fish of the shamkir reservoir

In 2019-2022, an ichthyological study of six species of the main commercial fish was carried out at the Shamkir reservoir on the Kura River. Studies have shown that the ratio of males and females among the main fish species caught in this reservoir was approximately 1:1 for bream (Abramis brama orientalis), zander (Sander lucioperca) and carp (Cyprinus carpio), 2:3 for Prussian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), 5:4 for Caspian roach (Rutilus caspicus), and 3:2 for Danubian bleak (Chalcalburnus chalcoides). In all fish species, the difference between the body weight of males and females without viscera was greater than the difference between their total body weight, which was due to the presence of eggs in females. For the same reason, the fullness according to Fulton of males and females more differs, than fullness according to Clark. Comparition of the different age groups shows that the growth speed of lenth and mass of the carp and zander were higher than of the rest fish. The growth rate of roach and Danubian bleak was the lowest compared to other fish.

On the History of the Population and Territorial Issues of the Gazakh Region of Azerbaijan

The Gazakh region, located in the basin of Agstafa and Kura rivers in the northwest of Azerbaijan, was inhabited by the Gazakh tribe, which was part of the Hun tribal union from the first centuries of our era. The greater influx of the Gazakh tribe, which gave its name to the north-western region of Azerbaijan, took place in the XI–XII centuries at the invitation of the Georgian tsars who tried to free themselves from Seljuk dependence. During this period, the Gazakh tribe, which was part of the large Kipchak tribal union, lived in a part of the Kuban steppes. That area was called ‘Gazakhia’ after the name of the Gazakh tribe. Tens of thousands of Gazakhs who came to the South Caucasus at the invitation of the Georgian tsars settled in Georgia and converted to Christianity, while the other part began to live in the present-day Gazakh and Borchali regions. The Gazakhs living in the latter areas have preserved their national identity by mixing with their compatriots since the early Middle Ages. The Gazakh region, a part of the Safavid province with the status of a county, came under the influence of the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom in the second half of the XVIII century. During this period, a large part of the Gazakh tribe, who did not want to live under the rule of the Georgian tsars, moved to Ganja, Karabakh, Iravan khanates and the eastern provinces of Turkey.

МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЕ ГОРОДСКИХ ЛАНДШАФТОВ (НА ИЗОБРАЖЕНИИ ГОРОДОВ МИЛЬСКОЙ И МУГАНСКОЙ РАВНИН)

In the research work, the issues of modeling cities located on the Mil and Mugan plains were analyzed. These cities include Sabirabad, Saatly and Imishli. Only 3 % of the Earth is covered by cities. However, more than 50 % of the world's population lives in cities. Rapid population growth in cities makes their planning and modeling important. Therefore, our study is devoted to an actual problem. Goal. The main goal of our study is to study the development of cities and determine the correct management and modeling of them. Method. In the course of the study, for the first time in Azerbaijan, we applied the building density coefficient. To do this, we used Geographic Information Systems. As a result, all cities were modeled. Result. As a result of the research, it was found that these cities, located on the banks of the Araz and Kura rivers, are intensively expanding. Such development may also create a food problem in the near future.

CORROSION OF CARBON STEEL IN THE WATER BASINS OF SHEMKIR AND YENIKEND HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS

Using gravimetric and electrochemical research methods, the corrosion-electrochemical behavior of carbon steel grade St3 in Kura river water has been. Gravimetric measurements were carried out under operating conditions of the Shemkir and Yenikend hydroelectric power stations for one year. Along with this, the ionic and bacteriological composition, as well as some physicochemical parameters of these waters were established. It revealed that St3 in the Kura water corrodes at a rate of (0.04÷0.05) g/m2•hour, which is characteristic of steel corrosion in fresh waters. In the atmosphere of hydraulic structures, steel corrodes at rather a low rate, i.e. (5÷6)10-3 g/m2 hour. As a result of biochemical analysis, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were discovered in these waters, which are a dangerous organism that releases the corrosive substance of H2S. By taking the anodic and cathodic polarization curves, a quasi-stationary steel corrosion rate was established to be 0.06g/m2 h.

An Anthropogenic Effect on Alluvial-Meadow-Forest Soils in the Floodplain of Kura River (Azerbaijan)

The issues of genetic features, classification position and diagnostic indicators of floodplain-alluvial soils are considered. Alluvial-meadow-forest soils are fairly widespread under the high quality tugai forests of the floodplain of the Kura River. The territory has favorable relief conditions, a dry subtropical climate, as well as resources of the water regime. The humus content in the upper horizons is 4.2-4.5% and decreases with depth to 0.8%. In the buried humus horizons, an increase up to 2.2% is observed. The amount of total nitrogen in the horizons is 0.21-0.26%. The results of the analysis indicate differences in the gross chemical composition of forest and cultivated alluvial-meadow-forest soils. Irrigated soils were identified as an independent type.

INFLUENCE GROUNDWATER PRODUCTION AND EXPLOITATION ON ECOSYSTEM CHANGING IN AZERBAIJAN

The Azerbaijan Republic is located in the arid climatic zone and due to this feels deficit of general water balance. The production and utilization of the groundwater caused negative consequences that affected on natural conditions of different regions. For example, in Qanikh-Ayrichay fields we can notice abnormally high hydraulic interrelation between ground and surface waters, and underground component of the river drain in the natural conditions forms approximately 55-65%. When infringing given conditions by production the groundwater the decrease of their average level forms approximately 50-60 meters. The appeared depression funnels cause tightening of the additional volume of river run-off to the groundwater intake wells, that is damage river run-off. Given volume of the river run-off must not be calculated twice when assessing the common water balance of the region. And another fact, the decrease of the groundwater level in a part of Gusar region has created some ecological problems. In the region of development of the relict forests the dynamic levels of the groundwater decreased on 25-30 meters. This affected root-inhabitable stratum and as a result led to abrupt aggravation of the ecological situation of the regions. It was required to optimize the production of the groundwater. Opposite situation is observed in the Absheron Peninsula where there are almost no fresh water resources. The water demands are met by surface water resources of Samur river and groundwater transfer from Guba-Gusar region of the Republic (more than 200 km from the demand areas). These sources are augmented with water from Kura river in the Ali-Bayramli region (more than 180 km from the demand area), at rates of up to 30 m'/sec. Due to the specific hydrogeological conditions, absence of sewerage system and etc., it leads to land subsidence, landslide processes, flooding, and other environmental and social phenomena and abrupt aggravation of the geoecological situation of the peninsula, in the whole. As it has already been mentioned a big part of groundwater in Azerbaijan is utilized for irrigation of agricultural crop. Mostly we notice fresh (up to1.0 g/l) or weakly saltish (up to 3.0 g/l) hydrocarbonate-sulphate and sulphate - hydrocarbonate waters with different cationic composition. The combination of cations form irrigation factors of the groundwater and as a result forms opportunity to utilize it for irrigation of concrete soils. Incorrect calculation of given qualitative parameters in the "water-rock" system has led to salinization of the soils of irrigated areas of Mil and Mugan-Salyan plains and accordingly led them to exit from the crop rotation. At present time, melioration of these areas is realizing. Thus, we can certify that production and utilization of the groundwater is essential anthropogenic factor, which influence on geoeco-logical situation of the republic. This factor must be taken into account when forecasting water-related activities in the whole and concerning exploitation of the groundwater, in particular. Keywords: water-bearing horizons, aquifer, water-saturated series, water-economy balance, gravel-pebble sedimentation, depression funnel, Mil and Mugan-Salyan plains, exploitative reserves.

The trouts of the upper Kura and Aras rivers in Turkey, with description of three new species (Teleostei: Salmonidae).

The taxonomic status of the resident and anadromous trout species native to the Kura and Aras river drainages is evaluated, and three resident species are recognised in the upper reaches of Kura and Aras drainages in Turkey. Salmo murathani, new species, is described from slow flowing tributaries of the Aras River. It is distinguished by the general body color dark greyish in life; the numerous black spots on body, present on the back and on the middle and upper parts of the flank, and on the anterior part of the lower flank in males and females larger than about 230 mm SL; the number of black spots increases with size, in both males and females; and various meristic and morphometric characters. Salmo araxensis, new species, is described from fast flowing tributaries of the Aras River. It is distinguished by the general body color greyish to brownish in life; only few black spots on the body, restricted to the back and the upper part of the flank, their number not increasing with size in both sexes; and various meristic and morphometric characters. Salmo ardahanensis, new species, is described from head waters of the Kura River. It is distinguished by the general body color dark brownish in life; the roundish black spots on the body, scattered on the back, and the middle and upper parts of the flank in most specimens, rarely restricted to the back and the upper part of the flank; in females, the black spots are few, restricted to the back and the upper part of the flank; the number of black spots increases slightly with size in males; the adipose fin is large, almost reaching to caudal-fin base in males larger than about 170 mm SL; and various meristic and morphometric characters.

Necropol Gazigulu – Late Bronze–Early Iron Ages Site of the Khojaly-Gedabey Archaeological Culture in Bassin of Tovuzchay River

Large-scale rescue archaeological excavations were taken during construction of Gazigulu reservoir in western part of Azerbaijan Republic in Tovuz district of Azerbaijan in 2007-2009. Necropolis of the Late Bronze – Early Iron Ages (second part II – beginning I millenniums BC) was studied there. The site belonged to Khojaly-Gedabey archaeological culture. Gazigulu necropolis is situated at the plain, at the left bank of Tovuzchay River (the right inflow of Kura River). In total 18 burials were excavated at Gazigulu necropolis including 16 burials, which were identified as the graves with stone floors mound, another two burials were simple earth graves. The skeletons were buried in crouched / strong crouched position at left or right sides. Archaeological materials mainly,consist from the different types of ceramic vessels, metal wares and adornment. According to the author's definition, the Gazigulu burial rite was identical to the common burial traditions of population of the region during the period under study.

ДЕТАЛЬНОЕ ИЗУЧЕНИЕ СКОРОСТНОГО РАЗРЕЗА КОМПЛЕКСИРОВАНИЕМ СЕЙСМИЧЕСКИХ ДАННЫХ ОДНОКРАТНОГО И МНОГОКРАТНОГО ПРОФИЛИРОВАНИ

The velocities of propagation of seismic waves are one of the most important kinematic parameters; the geological efficiency of seismic exploration ultimately depends on the accuracy and completeness of information about the velocities. Methods for determining effective velocities from seismic data, proposed for the period of application of seismic exploration by the method of reflected waves, are listed. The methods for determining the velocities are divided into 2 large groups: the first group includes methods for determining the effective velocities based on automatic or visual tracking of the in-phase axes (i.e. hodographs) of reflected waves on the seismograms of the OTP (common point of explosion) or CDP (common depth point), and then their approximation by hyperbolas, and the second group includes methods based on the use of seismic wave field analysis in controlled directions. The main disadvantages of the existing methods are indicated, the industrial method, which is widely used at the present time, is highlighted, based on the analysis of the wave field in controlled directions, which do not provide sufficiently accurate and complete information for solving the traditional problem of kinematic interpretation, i.e. transition from time sections to migrated deep ones. A new method for determining the effective velocity is proposed, which is fundamentally different from the methods used so far in the practice of seismic exploration, since in this method, seismic data of single and multiple profiling are used not separately, as it was until now, but in a complex manner. Formulas are derived for determining the effective speed from the data of single and multiple profiling. A method for determining the effective speed has been developed and a sequence of procedures for solving the problem is presented. The results of research on a specific example are given by solving the direct and inverse problems for the Sazhdag area of the Mesopotamia of the Kura and Iori rivers. The influence of errors in the values of the parameters included in the formula for calculating the effective speed on the final results is investigated. At the end of the article, the main advantages of the proposed method are listed.

Capoeta svanetica (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), a New Species from the Luchunis River (Rioni River Drainage) in Georgia

Recent Georgia’s fish fauna includes four Capoeta species: C. capoeta (Kura River basin), C. kaput (Araxes River and its left tributaries, the Akhuryan and Mezamor rivers), C. sieboldii (East and South–East Black Sea river basins), and C. banarescuii (Chorokh River basin). Based on morphological data analysis new species of the genus Capoeta — C. svanetica sp. n. is described. It is more similar to the Capoeta damascina complex group (Anatolian–Iranian group) which also includes C. banarescui, C. baliki, and C. sieboldii spread at East and South-East Black Sea coastal rivers. The Anatolian–Iranian group, also known as small-scales species group well distinguished from Aral-Caspian species (C. capoeta and C. kaput in Georgia) by highest scales number in lateral line. C. svanetica sp. n. is distinguished from other Capoeta species of Black Sea basin rivers in Georgia and adjacent waters by combination of characters: two pairs of barbels are present (C. sieboldii and C. oguzelii have one barbels pair); no spots on the body (C. oguzelii has small black spots); lower lip has keratinised edge without fringe (C. sieboldii and C. oguzelii are characterized by fringed lips); scales small, 70–74 total lateral line scales (in C. sieboldii only 52–60 scales); 10–12 scale rows above lateral line (C. banarescui, C. baliki and C. oguzelii have more than 12 scale rows) and 7–8 scale rows below lateral line (C. baliki and C. oguzelii have more than 10 scale rows); 12–15 gill rakers on the first gill arch (C. sieboldii and C. baliki have more then 16); last unbranched fin ray soft, serrae number on it is 7–9 in adult and 0 in juvenile samples (all other Capoeta species of Black Sea basin rivers have well ossified last unbranched ray with high serrae number); anal fin base length is only 7.4–9.4 % of SL (more shorter than C. banarescui, C. baliki and also C. tinca); as well as mouth width (25.4–29.4 % of HL); eye diameter (19.0–28.7 % of HL) is biggest than same in C. banarescui, C. baliki and also C. tinca.