Fishes living in highly alkaline waters have generally evolved adaptations to facilitate nitrogenous waste excretion. To date, three teleostean species that thrive in their natural alkaline habitats have been investigated, the Lake Magadi tilapia (Oreochromis alcalicus grahami) from Kenya, the Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) from Pyramid Lake Nevada and the anadromous tarek (Chalcalburnus tarichi) endemic to Lake Van, Turkey