# Italian bleak

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_bleak
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{{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](/source/Oronzio_Gabriele_Costa), 1838)
| synonyms =
* ''Alburnus alburnus albidus'' <small>(Costa, 1838)</small>
* ''Leuciscus albidus'' <small>Costa, 1838</small>
* ''Leuciscus cordilla'' <small>[Valenciennes](/source/Achille_Valenciennes), 1844</small>
* ''Leuciscus vulturius'' <small>Costa, 1838</small>
| 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](/source/freshwater_fish) in the family [Leuciscidae](/source/Leuciscidae), which includes daces, minnows, and related fishes. This fish is endemic to southern [Italy](/source/Italy).

==Taxonomy==
The Italian bleak was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) as ''Leuciscus albidus'' in 1838 by the Italian [zoologist](/source/zoologist) [Oronzio Gabriele Costa](/source/Oronzio_Gabriele_Costa) with its [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given as [Campania](/source/Campania), [Cilento](/source/Cilento), from the [Alento](/source/Alento_(Cilento)) River near [Fasana](/source/Omignano) village in Italy. This taxon has been regarded as a subspecies of the [common bleak](/source/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](/source/Alburnus)'' is classified within the [subfamily](/source/subfamily) [Leuciscinae](/source/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](/source/Latin) for [whitefish](/source/Whitefish_(fisheries_term)) but it  also refers to the [bleak](/source/Bleak_(fish)), a name which means pale in English, in reference to the pale non lustrous colour of ''A. alburnus''. The [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)), ''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](/source/Balkans) by having the origin of the [anal fin](/source/anal_fin) immediately to the rear or below the last branched [dorsal fin](/source/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](/source/pelvic_fin). In preserved specimens there is a faint stripe along the [lateral line](/source/lateral_line) which extends to the base of the pelvic fin. The mouth is terminal. This species has a maximum [standard length](/source/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](/source/Trigno) to the [Sinni](/source/Sinni_(river)) river systems, and between the [Volturno](/source/Volturno) River to the Alento River on the Tyrrhenian side. It has been introduced to the [Mingardo](/source/Mingardo_(river)), [Bussento](/source/Bussento), [Noce](/source/Noce_(river)), [Lao](/source/Lao_(Italian_river)), [Savuto](/source/Savuto) and [Neto](/source/Neto_(river)) 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}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q301413}}

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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Italian bleak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_bleak) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_bleak?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.