Leucos

Leucos is a genus of fishes in the <a href="/facts/Family_(biology)/qTrn6E8E">family</a> <a href="/facts/Leuciscidae/B3A9RXf9">Leuciscidae</a>, from Southern Europe. They are a taxon which is closely related to the genus <a href="/facts/Rutilus/cqKdFx1R">Rutilus</a>, and were only recently taxonomically distinguished from that genus.
Molecular data suggest that Leucos diverged from Rutilus more than five million years ago, probably during the <a href="/facts/Messinian_salinity_crisis/4SHUhP49">Messinian salinity crisis</a>. The species of Leucos are typically of small size and they all live in still waters. They differ from Rutilus by the lack of spinous <a href="/facts/Nuptial_tubercles/r8vIJBBl">tubercles</a> on scales and head in reproductive males, and also in the <a href="/facts/Pharyngeal_teeth/PhghwJy9">pharyngeal teeth</a> formula. The sister group to Leucos is the monotypic <a href="/facts/Sarmarutilus/bESY1Ncj">Sarmarutilus</a>.

Leucos open-in-new

Leucos