Alburnus scoranza

The Albanian bleak, <em>Alburnus scoranza</em>, is a small freshwater fish in the family Leuciscidae, found in lake and river systems of the Albanian and North Macedonian Balkans. This species is particularly associated with the Skadar (Shkodra) Lake basin and connected waters, one of the largest lakes in the Balkans and a designated Ramsar wetland of international importance. <em>Alburnus scoranza</em> is a slender, silvery fish with a laterally compressed body and a slightly upturned mouth, adapted for near-surface feeding on insects and small invertebrates. Specimens can reach a maximum recorded length of approximately 17.9 cm and a maximum recorded weight of approximately 0.05 kg. The species likely inhabits the open-water and littoral zones of lakes and the calmer reaches of associated river systems. Details of habitat and range for this species remain limited in the ichthyological literature. Its conservation status has not been formally evaluated by the IUCN. The Skadar Lake basin faces anthropogenic pressures including water level fluctuations, pollution, and overfishing, making awareness of endemic species like this bleak important for regional conservation planning.