Italian bleak

{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{speciesbox | status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Ford, M. |year=2024 |title=''Alburnus albidus'' |article-number=e.T788A137218178 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T788A137218178.en}}</ref> | genus = Alburnus | species = albidus | image_caption = Alburnus albidus | image = Alburnus_albidus_Cervaro.jpg | authority = (Costa, 1838) | synonyms = * ''Alburnus alburnus albidus'' (Costa, 1838) * ''Leuciscus albidus'' Costa, 1838 * ''Leuciscus cordilla'' Valenciennes, 1844 * ''Leuciscus vulturius'' Costa, 1838 | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id126573/|title=Italian Bleak ''Alburnus albidus'' (Costa, 1838)|publisher=Biolib.cz|access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref> }}

The '''Italian bleak''' ('''''Alburnus albidus''''') the '''Southern Italian bleak''' or '''white bleak''', is a species of freshwater fish in the family Leuciscidae, which includes daces, minnows, and related fishes. This fish is endemic to southern Italy.

==Taxonomy== The Italian bleak was first formally described as ''Leuciscus albidus'' in 1838 by the Italian zoologist Oronzio Gabriele Costa with its type locality given as Campania, Cilento, from the Alento River near Fasana village in Italy. This taxon has been regarded as a subspecies of the common bleak (''A. alburnus'') but is now regarded as a valid species.<ref name = "Cof genus">{{Cof genus|genus=Alburnus|access-date=3 April 2025}}</ref> The genus ''Alburnus'' is classified within the subfamily Leuciscinae of the family Leuciscidae.<ref name = "Cof family">{{Cof family|family=Leuciscinae|access-date=3 April 2025}}</ref>

==Etymology== The Italian bleak belongs to the genus ''Alburnus'' a name derived from the Latin for whitefish but it also refers to the bleak, a name which means pale in English, in reference to the pale non lustrous colour of ''A. alburnus''. The specific name, ''albidus'', is Latin and also means whitish or white.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web |url=https://etyfish.org/leuciscinae/ |title=Family LEUCISCIDAE: Subfamily LEUCISCINAE Bonaparte 1835 (European Minnows)|author=Christopher Scharpf |date=8 April 2024 |access-date=2 April 2025 |work=The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database |publisher=Christopher Scharpf}}</ref>

==Description== The Italian bleak is distinguished from related species in Italy and the Balkans by having the origin of the anal fin immediately to the rear or below the last branched dorsal fin ray. The anal fin has between 11 and {{fraction|13|1|2}}. The ventral keel is exposed between the anus and the base of the pelvic fin. In preserved specimens there is a faint stripe along the lateral line which extends to the base of the pelvic fin. The mouth is terminal. This species has a maximum standard length is {{cvt|11|cm}}.<ref name = FishBase>{{FishBase|Alburnus|albidus|month=October|year=2024}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat== The Italian bleak is endemic to southern Italy where it is found in the rivers draining into the Adriatic and Ionian Seas between the Trigno to the Sinni river systems, and between the Volturno River to the Alento River on the Tyrrhenian side. It has been introduced to the Mingardo, Bussento, Noce, Lao, Savuto and Neto rivers. This fish is found in both larger river channels and smaller tributaries with moderate to low flow with gravel, stone or pebble streambeds, as well as in reservoirs.<ref name = iucn/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Alburnus Category:Freshwater fish of Europe Category:Fish described in 1838 Category:Taxa named by Oronzio Gabriele Costa Category:Endemic fauna of Italy Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Habitats Directive species