It is locally known in Turkish: İnci kefalı/balığı, Kurdish: darex darach, and Armenian: տառեխ taṙex It was thought to be the only fish to inhabit Lake Van, when In 2018, a new species of fish, Oxynoemacheilus ercisianus, was discovered to live among the microbialite.

[5] It is locally known in Turkish: İnci kefalı/balığı, Kurdish: darex darach, and Armenian: տառեխ taṙex.

In May and June of each year it travels upstream through the lake's tributaries to lay eggs, flying through the air like salmon.

Locals prefer to catch the fish during reproduction season, when the females are filled with eggs, which are considered a delicacy in the town and region of Erciş.

YYÜ and Doğa Gözcüleri Derneği have been developing a conservation strategy since 1997 (Sari, 2012).