The splendid killifish, also called the Gölçük toothcarp, was described and collected in “Lake Gölçük” in Turkey. The exact location of Lake Gölçük has been a topic of debate which has made confirming or denying its current existence difficult. Lake Gölçük is thought to have been an area north of Lake Ak, in a lake that has since dried up, next to a settlement with the near-identical name Gŏlcük. The splendid killifish was known to have lived in southwestern Anatolia, Turkey in the Lake Salda region of the Taurus Mountains. Lake Salda is 3,871 feet above sea level, but never freezes because of its high levels of dissolved salt. The pH level of the lake is 8.0 - 11.0. The lake is fed by freshwater springs, making Lake Salda a unique habitat for the splendid killifish. There are three theories about what caused the demise of the splendid killifish. The first is that its home lake has dried up in recent times due to people using water for irrigation. The second is that increased pollution from the Turkish city of Isparta caused environmental changes. The last and most probable cause of the splendid killifish’s extinction was the introduction of non-native species, specifically the predatory zander, pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The splendid killifish might be a candidate. Specimens collected could be used to extract and sequence DNA. Turkish scientists have been working to save other native species including the critically endangered Lake Acigöl killifish. The Freshwater Life Project is an organization working to bring awareness to the Lake Acigöl killifish. They are raising money to fund efforts to protect its current home lake. The Freshwater Life Project is working on establishing a captive breeding program as well as building a biobank. The biobank is a genetic backup in case this killifish’s population gets too low or possibly goes extinct. If the splendid killifish was brought to life, could it ever be reintroduced to its native homeland in “Lake Gölçük” in Turkey?