Salmo platycephalus, known as the flathead trout, Ala balik or the Turkish trout, is a type of trout, a fish in the family Salmonidae. It is endemic to southeastern Turkey. It is known only from one population, which occupies three streams, tributaries of the Zamantı River in the Seyhan River basin. The population itself is abundant, but subject to threat by habitat loss, since the range is small. Also, predation of juveniles by introduced rainbow trout may cause population decline. The species is classified as critically endangered.
Many of the species can be found in Zamanti River. Zamantı River is a river in Central Anatolia, Turkey, crossing Kayseri Province in practically its whole course to join Seyhan River further south, of which it is the western, the longest and the most important tributary. Zamantı and Göksu join 80 km north of Adana to form Seyhan River.
Tracing a curvy course through the narrow valleys and cascades of the Taurus Mountains (called Aladağlar in this section), the river is one of the most favorite rafting spots in Turkey, particularly in its section around the town of Yahyalı, rated 3 in the international scale from 1 to 6
A 500 km² area along the river basin corresponds to Aladağlar National Park, mostly covered in forests and extending within Yahyalı (Kayseri Province), Çamardı (Niğde Province) and Aladağ (Adana Province) districts. A dozen peaks exceeding 3,000 meters also surround the river, making a prized destination among alpinists.
Through the Classical Antiquity until Byzantine times, the river was called "Karmalas".
Genetic evidence suggests that the flathead trout may indeed be derived from introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) and thus not be a distinct species of its own. Nevertheless, it is a unique form which requires protection.
