Skeletal structure of Kura bleak, Alburnus filippii (Kessler, 1877), in South Caspian Sea basin

Kura bleak, Alburnus filippii, a member of the family Cyprinidae, is found in the rivers of Aras and Sefidrud, and the Anzali lagoon of Iran. The current study was conducted to provide a detailed osteological description of this sp-ecies since there was not adequate information in this regard. In order to attain this goal, 20 specimens were collected from the Ahar Chay River by electrofishing device, and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. The specimens were cleared, stained with alizarin red S and alcian blue for osteological examination and a detailed description of its skeletal structure was provided. The results showed that this species can be distinguished from other members of this genus in Iran by a combination of osteological characters, including having pointed process of the maxillae, dorsal tilting of the coronoid process, protruding of the anterior margin of the hyomandibular, fan-shaped anterior part of the basihyal, pointed end of the pre-vomer posteriorly, small fourth infraorbital and 11 pterygiophors in the dorsal fin.