Freshwater Fishes of Iran

Species Accounts - Cyprinidae - Alburnoides

Revised:  22 July 2009

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Genus Alburnoides
Jeitteles, 1861

This genus is found in Europe, Asia Minor and Central Asia with 11 species, with 5 reported in Iran.

The riffle minnows are similar in appearance to the genus Alburnus but have smooth rather than serrated pharyngeal teeth. Arguably this distinction is insufficient to warrant a separate genus but it is retained here as this has not been investigated in depth and the genus has widespread usage. Certainly it is not uncommon to find individuals of Alburnus alburnus lacking serrations on their pharyngeal teeth.

Pharyngeal teeth in Alburnoides are in 2 rows with strongly hooked tips but unserrated, scales of medium size, no groove before the dorsal fin, a keel behind the pelvic fins is usually scaleless but may be wholly scaled, short dorsal and moderate to long anal fin, last dorsal fin unbranched ray thickened, decurved lateral line often with a characteristic spotting pattern above and below each pore, and gill rakers short and few.

Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782) was the name applied to most populations across Europe and the Middle East from France north of the Alps eastwards to the Black, Caspian and Aral Sea basins but ongoing research is revealing a greater diversity (Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009; Coad and Bogustkaya, 2009).

Alburnoides eichwaldii

 

Alburnoides bipunctatus
(Bloch, 1782)

Common names

خياطه (= khayataeh) or ماهي خياطه (= mahi khayateh, tailor or tailoress fish, possibly from lateral line pattern like stitches), لپك (= lapak in Mazandaran), پرك (= parak in Gilaki), sima, kuli.

[gijovcu in Azerbaijan; vostochnaya bystryanka or oriental bystranka, zakavkazskaya bystryanka or Transcaucasian bystranka, Armyanskaya bystryanka or Armenian bystryanka for A. b. armeniensis, all in Russian; spirlin, riffle minnow or riffle bleak].

Systematics

Cyprinus bipunctatus was originally described from the Weser River in Germany. Alburnus Eichwaldii De Filippi, 1863, described from the "Kur presso Tiflis" (= Kura River near Tbilisi, Georgia), was regarded as a Caspian Sea basin subspecies of Alburnoides bipunctatus but Bănărescu (1991) briefly stated that it cannot be distinguished from Alburnoides bipunctatus fasciatus (Nordmann, 1840) of the Black Sea basin. Holčík and Jedlička (1994) considered that the observed variation is clinal and subspecies are not warranted. Reshetnikov et al. (1997) also consider subspecies as disputable. There is another nominal subspecies in the Aras River drainage of Armenia, Alburnoides bipunctatus armeniensis Dadikyan, 1972, from the rivers Arpa, Vorotan, Vedi, Marmarik, Kasakh and their tributaries.

Bogutskaya and Coad (2009) demonstrate that the Caspian Sea population in Iran is A. eichwaldii, at least in the western part ??

A syntype of Cyprinus bipunctatus described from the Weser River, Germany is in the Museum für Naturkunde, Universität Humboldt, Berlin (ZMB 3357) (Eschmeyer et al., 1996).

Two syntypes of Alburnus eichwaldi from "Tiflis" are in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien under NMW 55516 and 4 syntypes are in the Istituto e Museo di Zoologia della R. Università di Torino under MZUT N.677 (Tortonese, 1940; Eschmeyer et al., 1996).

Syntypes of Alburnoides bipunctatus armeniensis are in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg under ZISP 37502.

Key characters

See B and C 2009 here and below

The pigmentation along the lateral line is distinctive. Total gill raker counts (5-12) are much less than in Alburnus alburnus (16-29, usually 20 or more) which has similar scale and fin rays counts.

Morphology

Dorsal fin with 2-3 unbranched and 6-10, usually 8, branched rays, anal fin with 2-3 unbranched and 10-18 branched rays, usually 12-13 (but see below for Iran). Lateral line scales 41-58. Gill rakers 5-12, usually 7-10. Vertebrae 37-44. Pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2, rarely 2,5-5,2, 2,4-5,2, or 1,5-4,2, with variants being 1,5-4,1, 2,5-4,3, 2,3-4,2, 2,4-4,2, 1,5-4,0, and 1,2,5-4,3. The chromosome number is 2n=50 (Klinkhardt et al., 1995).

Meristics in Iranian specimens from the Caspian Sea: dorsal fin branched rays 7(6), 8(121) or 9(3); anal fin branched rays 11(1), 12(26), 13(61), 14(32), 15(9) or 16(1); pectoral fin branched rays 12(3), 13(23), 14(71), 15(24) or 16(9); pelvic fin branched rays 6(3), 7(116) or 8(11); lateral line scales 43(4), 44(5), 45(25), 46(29), 47(23), 48(13), 49(7), 50(10), 51(6) 52(5), 54(1) or 55(2); total gill rakers 6(7), 7(35), 8(57), 9(30) or 10(1); pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2(14), 2,5-5,2(1) or 2,4-5,2(2); and total vertebrae 37(1), 38(1), 39(4), 40(49), 41(32) or 42(2).

Sexual dimorphism

Abdurakhmanov (1962) reports pelvic fin length greater in males and snout length greater in females for this species in Azerbaijan.

Colour

There is a characteristic pigmentation along the lateral line with a small spot above, and another below, the lateral line opening on each scale. This only appears in preserved material as live fish are an overall silvery colour. It can be absent, mostly in lake forms. The flank has a blue-grey stripe wider than the eye diameter. Above the lateral line there may be a series of 5-9 black lines formed of triangular blotches and 3-5 similar lines below the lateral line. The back and head are dark olive, almost black, dark green or dark brown. The flank above the lateral line may have purple iridescent tints. The flanks can be a golden yellow. The belly and lower head are pearly-white. The dorsal and caudal fins have some grey pigment or may be dark grey. The bases of the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins have orange to red pigmentation which is not well developed in young. The extent and intensity of this pigment is variable between fins, although in some fish it is equally developed in all these fins.

Size

Reaches 14.5 cm, rarely over 16.0 cm.

Distribution

Found from France through Europe north of the Alps eastwards to the Black, Caspian and Aral Sea basins. In Iran, as the Alburnoides bipunctatus species complex, it is widely distributed and is found in the basins of the Caspian Sea, Lake Orumiyeh, Tedzhen River (the Kashaf River for example), Kavir, Namak Lake, Esfahan (Zayandeh and Shur rivers), Tigris River, Gulf, and Kor River (Wossughi, 1978; Aliev et al., 1988; Holčík and Oláh, 1992; Shamsi et al., 1997; Roshan Tabari, 1997; Abbasi et al., 1999; Kiabi et al., 1999; Abdoli, 2000; Jalali et al., 2005).

A record from a qanat at Hormak (29°58'N, 60°51'E) in the Sistan basin by Saadati (1977) is probably an error of labeling or sorting. It is not mentioned in the collector's (R. J. Behnke) original field notes nor in a typed version. Also this species was not collected there by me.     

    

Zoogeography

This species shows considerable variation over its range from Europe to southern Iran. Dadikyan (1973) demonstrated variability in this species in a mountainous region of Armenia within the Aras River basin. Up to 10 characters could be used to distinguish populations within the same river but taken at different altitudes. Populations at similar altitudes but in different rivers (and habitat types, e.g. rushing rocky streams compared to a bog) also varied but the characters were not necessarily the same as those distinguishing altitudinal variants within one river. Local conditions, such as temperature and flow regime, may govern the characters at any one site. Gene flow may play a part as fish are carried downstream by heavy rainfall. Populations living within the same river are presumably more closely related than populations in different river systems but may show more differences than populations at similar altitudes but which have had no gene flow for long periods. These factors complicate designation of subspecies in this species and accurate analysis requires large series of specimens.

Habitat

This species inhabits small streams and is less frequent in the main flow of large rivers. In Iran, it is one of two most abundant species in Caspian rivers along with Capoeta capoeta (Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization Newsletter, 19:4, 1998). It prefers well-oxygenated water, low in pollution, with hard stream beds. In laboratory experiments with European specimens, Bless (1996) found that reproduction requires a stream velocity of 0.4 ms-1 and a gravel substrate with a diameter of 2-15 cm which allows interstitial flow.

Age and growth

In Azerbaijan, maturity is attained at 1-2 years and life span is 3 years (Abdurakhmanov, 1962).

Food

Food is taken from the bottom or from the water surface, the former being mostly insect larvae and the latter terrestrial organisms which fall on the water. Abdoli (2000) lists Simuliidae, Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Chironimidae and Trichoptera. Diatoms are also found in gut contents (Abdurakhmanov, 1962).

Reproduction

Spawning takes place in spring (April-June) at 13-15.6°C and adhesive eggs are laid on sand or gravel in fast-flowing water. Fecundity reaches 6496 eggs and egg diameter 2.16 mm (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). Bless (1996) reports multiple spawning over a period of 15 weeks in laboratory conditions.

Parasites and predators

Jalali and Molnár (1990a) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus alatus and D. chalcalburni from this species in the Zayandeh Rud. Gussev et al. (1993b) also reports the latter species and locality. The monogenean Diplozoon paradoxum is recorded from this species in the Tajan River, Mazandaran (Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization Newsletter, 6:7, 1994). Shamsi et al. (1997) report Clinostomum complanatum, a parasite causing laryngo-pharyngitis in humans, from this species. Masoumian and Pazooki (1998) surveyed myxosporeans in this species in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces, finding Myxobolus ellipsoides. Masoumian et al. (2005) report the protozoan parasites Ichthyophthirius multifilis, Trichodina perforata and Chilodonella, sp. from this species in water bodies in West Azarbayjan. Mortazavi Tabrizi et al. (2005) record Ligula intestinalis in this species from the Sattarkhan Dam in East Azerbaijan. Pazooki et al. (2005) record Trichodina  perforata from this species in waterbodies of Zanjan Province. Pazooki et al. (2006) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus vistulae, Gyrodactylus sp. and Paradiplozoon sp. from this fish in Zanjan Province. Mehdipoor et al. (2004) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus alatus, D. chalcalburni and D. pulcher in the Zayandeh River.

Economic importance

Robins et al. (1991) list this species as important to North Americans. Importance is based on its use as bait and in textbooks. It is also a known feeder on the larvae of the malaria-carrying mosquito.

Conservation

Lelek (1987) considers that this species is vulnerable to endangered in Europe through pollution and eutrophication. Vulnerable in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007). Kiabi et al. (1999) consider this species to be of least concern in the south Caspian Sea basin according to IUCN criteria. Criteria include abundant in numbers, habitat destruction, widespread range (75% of water bodies), present in other water bodies in Iran, and present outside the Caspian Sea basin.

Further work

This species complex needs to be investigated further, requiring large series of specimens from the eastern part of its range in Asia and/or new characters and molecular/genetic techniques. Meristic and morphometric characters seem to be plastic and could be environmentally determined, making taxon definition difficult.

Sources

Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0522, 22, 40.4-80.3 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Astaneh Bridge (37º16'30"N, 49º56'E); CMNFI 1970-0536, 3, 71.9-89.6 mm standard length, Gilan, Siah River estuary (36º53'N, 49º32'E); CMNFI 1970-0546, 3, 57.1-69.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River canal (no other locality data); CMNFI 1970-0551, 1, 108.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Ghaleh River near Fowman (37º13'N, 49º19'E); CMNFI 1970-0583, 16, 40.7-87.3 mm standard length, Gilan, Nahang Roga River (37º28'N, 49º28'E); CMNFI 1971-0327A, 6, 59.3-81.0 mm standard length, Gilan Shafa River (37º35'N, 49º09'E); CMNFI 1979-0239, 2, 57.1-79.3 mm standard length, Markazi, Nam River near Firuzkuh (35º43'N, 52º40'E); CMNFI 1979-0439A, 4, 53.4-72.2 mm standard length, Gilan, Shafa River (37º35'30"N, 49º05'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0440, 11, 53.7-88.6 mm standard length, Gilan, Lomir River (37º37'N, 49º02'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0441, 4, 52.4-55.7 mm standard length, Gilan, river 14 km south of Hashtpar (37º42'N, 48º58'E); CMNFI 1979-0445, 1, 70.6 mm standard length, Gilan, stream 10 km south of Astara (38º21'N, 48º51'E); CMNFI 1979-0453, 2, 45.8-65.1 mm standard length, Zanjan, Zanjan River (37º06'N, 47º56'E); CMNFI 1979-0454, 6, 39.6-56.0 mm standard length, Zanjan, Qezel Owzan River at Gilavan (36º47'N, 49º08'E); CMNFI 1979-0483, 2, 93.0-98.6 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Chashmeh River (37º23'30"N, 55º51'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0493, 11, 51.1-82.8 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Tajan River drainage (36º19'N, 53º23'E); CMNFI 1979-0695, 74, 34.1-71.1 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Manjil Bridge (36º46'N, 489º24'E); CMNFI 1980-0116, 19, 41.1-70.3 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Astaneh Bridge (37º16'30"N, 49º56'E).

Alburnoides idignensis
Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009

Common names

شبه زوري (shebeh zury = resembling zury) in Khuzestan.

Systematics

Key characters

Morphology

Sexual dimorphism

Colour

Size

Distribution

    

    

Zoogeography

Habitat

Age and growth

Food

Reproduction

Parasites and predators

Economic importance

Conservation

Further Work

Sources

Alburnoides namaki
Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009

Common names

Systematics

Key characters

Morphology

Sexual dimorphism

Colour

Size

Distribution

    

    

Zoogeography

Habitat

Age and growth

Food

Reproduction

Parasites and predators

Economic importance

Conservation

Further Work

Sources

Alburnoides nicolausi
Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009

Common names

شبه زوري (shebeh zury = resembling zury) in Khuzestan.

Systematics

Key characters

Morphology

Sexual dimorphism

Colour

Size

Distribution

    

    

Zoogeography

Habitat

Age and growth

Food

Reproduction

Parasites and predators

Economic importance

Conservation

Further Work

Sources

Alburnoides petrubanarescui
Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009

Common names

Systematics

Key characters

Morphology

Sexual dimorphism

Colour

Size

Distribution

    

    

Zoogeography

Habitat

Age and growth

Food

Reproduction

Parasites and predators

Economic importance

Conservation

Further Work

Sources

Alburnoides qanati
Coad and Bogutskaya, 2009

Common names

None.

Systematics

The female holotype is in the Canadian Musuem of Nature, Ottawa, under CMNFI 1977-0509, 81.5 mm TL, 65.0 mm SL, Iran, Fars, at source and along stream of a qanat at Naqsh-e Rostam, Pulvar River system (29°59’30”N, 52°54’00’’E). Paratypes are under  CMNFI 1977-0510, 178? specimens, 24.9-72.5 mm SL, 15 males50.0-72.0 mm SL and 15 females 54.0-72.5 mm SL counted and measured, same data as holotype. The species was named after the famous qanat system which taps groundwater to support human survival in desert regions and, incidentally, a habitat for fishes.

Key characters

The species is distinguished by a combination of characters which includes a large eye, the orbit width exceeding both the snout length and the interorbital width, a scaled ventral keel behind the pelvic fi ns along the abdomen to the anus, commonly 43-47 lateral line scales to posterior margin of hypurals, 2.5-4.2 pharyngeal teeth, commonly 8½ branched dorsal-fi n rays, 10-12½ branched anal-fi n rays, 40-41 total vertebrae, an d the caudal vertebral region equal or longer then the abdominal region (vertebral formulae 20+20 or 20+21).

Morphology

to rdo?

A ventral keel between the pelvics and the anal fin is developed but is completely covered by scales. There is a pelvic axillary scale and scales extend over the proximal bases of the anal fin. The lateral line is decurved and only the last few scales are elevated and on the mid-caudal peduncle. Dorsal fi n rays are 3 unbranched and 8½ branched, anal fi n rays are 3 unbranched and 12½ branched, branched pectoral fi n rays are 15, pelvic fi n branched rays are 7. Th e anal-fi n origin is behind the posterior end of the dorsal-fi n base. Lateral line scales to posterior margin of hypurals number 46, scales above lateral line to dorsal fi n origin are 9, scales below
lateral line to anal fi n origin are 4, scales below lateral line to pelvic fi n origin are 4, and total vertebrae are 41 (including 4 Weberian vertebrae and last complex centrum), comprising 20 abdominal and 21 caudal vertebrae.
Th e upper body profi le is straightened while the lower profi le is considerably convex. Th e snout is short and slightly pointed. Th e mouth is upturned, the tip of the mouth cleft is on a level with the upper margin of the pupil. Th e body depth enters standard length 3.6 times, head length enters 3.8, predorsal length 2.0, postdorsal length 2.8, caudal peduncle depth 8.6, caudal peduncle length 4.6, length of longest dorsal fi n ray 4.4, and length of longest anal fi n ray to scale sheath 6.3. Orbit width enters head length 3.2 times, snout length enters 3.3, and interorbital width 3.3. Pectoral fi n length enters pectoral fi n origin to pelvic fi n origin distance 1.1 times, and pelvic fi n length enters pelvic fi n origin to anal fi n origin distance 1.3 times. P

Description of paratypes. The body is markedly compressed. The upper body profile is convex or, in larger specimens, slightly to markedly straightened while the lower profile is considerably convex. The ventral keel between the pelvics and anal fin is not sharp and is completely covered by scales in all specimens but four possessing a short scaleless portion of keel (about ¼ of keel length) just in front of the anus. The anal fin origin is behind the posterior end of the dorsal fin base. The snout is short and slightly pointed. The mouth is terminal to upturned, with the tip of the mouth cleft on a level from slightly above the middle of the eye to the upper margin of the pupil. Th e mouth cleft is always turned upward, never horizontal, the lower jaw slightly to moderately projecting relative to the upper jaw, and the junction of the lower jaw and the quadrate is on about a vertical through the anterior eye margin.

Dorsal fin unbranched rays commonly 3, 4 in 3 specimens, dorsal fin branched rays 7½ (3) or 8½ (27) (mean 7.9, standard deviation 0.25), anal fi n unbranched rays 3, anal fi n branched rays 10½ (3), 11½ (22), 12½ (5) (11.1, 0.49), branched pectoral fi n rays 13(4), 14(20) or 15(6) (14.1, 0.58), pelvic fi n branched rays 7(30). A pelvic axillary scale is present and the anal fi n base is proximally overlain by fl ank scales. Th e dorsal fi n outer margin is truncate to slightly rounded and the anal fi n outer margin is truncate to slightly concave. Th e lateral line is complete with none, 1 or 2 unpored scales at the posterior end of the lateral series; lateral line scales to posterior margin of hypurals 41(1), 42(1), 43(5), 44(6), 45(3), 46(7), 47(5) 48(1) or 49(1) (45.0, 1.88); scales above lateral line to dorsal fi n origin 9(9), 10(18) or 11(3) (9.8, 0.61), scales below lateral line to pelvic fi n origin 3(4), 4(19) or 5(7) (4.1, 0.61), and scales below lateral line to anal fi n origin 4(16), 5(13) or 6(1) (4.5, 0.57). Total scale radii 8(1), 9(1), 10(4), 11(8), 12(20), 13(17), 14(16) 15(12), 16(7), 17(3) or 18(1) (13.2, 1.91); scale radii are restricted
to the posterior fi eld encroaching laterally, circuli are eccentric and the focus is anteriorly located. Total gill rakers in the outer row on fi rst left arch number 6(4), 7(4), 8(21) or 9(1) (7.6, 0.76); gill rakers are very short and widely spaced, not touching the adjacent raker when appressed. Total vertebrae including 4 Weberian vertebrae and last complex centrum nu m ber 40(14) or 41(16) (40.5, 0.51). Abdominal vertebrae (including intermediate ones; precaudal vertebrae auctorum) number 20 (in 28 specimens) or 21(12) (mean 20.1). Predorsal vertebrae (anterior to fi rst dorsal pterygiophore) number 13 (24) or 14 (6) (13.2). Caudal vertebrae number 20 (18) or 21
(12) (20.4). Th e vertebral formula is 20+20 (16), 20+21 (12) or 21+20 (2). Th us, the caudal vertebral region most commonly (in 93% of examined specimens) is equal to or slightly longer then the abdominal region, the mean diff erence between abdominal and caudal counts being -0.3. A radiograph of a specimen with a vertebral formula 20+21 is shown in Fig. 2. Pharyngeal tooth counts are 2.5-4.2 in 10 fi sh examined with one additional fi sh
being a variant with 2.4-4.0. Teeth are hooked at the tip and not serrated below it. Th e gut shape is a simple “S” with an occasional specimen showing a slight fl exure to the left of the anterior loop. Th e peritoneum is rarely dark brown but usually is white-grey to light brown with black spots. A postcleithrum bone is present and reduced, or absent, in the pectoral fi n skeleton. Th e general topography of cephalic sensory canals and numbers of pores is typical of most Alburnoides, as described by Bogutskaya (1988). Th e supraorbital canal is not lengthened in its posterior section and has 7-11, commonly 8-10 pores (9 in 57% of canals; mean 8.8), with 2-4 (3 in 90%) and 5-7 (6 in 73%) canal openings on the nasal and frontal bones, respectively. Th e infraorbital canal has 10-15 pores (13 in 38%, 12 in 30%; 12.8) with 4 (93%) or 5 canal openings on the fi rst infraorbital. Th e preopercular-mandibular canal is complete, with 11-17, modally 13-16, pores (14 in 38%; 14.4) with (3)4-6 (5 in 77%) and 7-10 (8 in 62%) canal openings on the dentary and preoperculum, respectively. Th e supratemporal canal is complete, with (4)5-7 (7 in 54%; 6.20) pores.

Sexual dimorphism

Head length is longer in males than in females. Pectoral fin length and pelvic fin length are also longer in males.

Colour

Pigmentation of the holotype in 5% formalin consisted of a dark lateral line dividing the hypaxial and epaxial muscle masses and a weakly developed stripe of black pigment on mid-flank prominent posteriorly on the caudal peduncle but fading over the pectoral fin and often interrupted anteriorly. The lateral line pores were lined by pigment dorsally and ventrally. A mid-dorsal line was apparent before the dorsal fin, weakly developed behind the fin. The fins were mostly hyaline with some black pigment lining the fin rays of the dorsal and caudal fins, the dorsal rays of the pectoral fins and the anterior rays of the anal fin.

Overall colouration is silvery with the bases of the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins pink in life. An orange line parallels the anal fin base and the lateral line, lying midway between the two. The ventral surface of the head between the dentaries may be yellow-orange and similarly coloured spots may be found on either side of the dorsal mid-line extending along the whole body. Faint yellow spots occur in rows along the flanks also. Pigmentation in preserved fish is as described for the holotype although the lateral stripe is weakly-developed in some specimens, the mid-flank band of spots of black pigment may be variably developed, and the lateral line may be clearly or only faintly edged by pigment.

Size

Attains 72.5 mm standard length.

Distribution

Known only from two water bodies in the Pulvar River drainage of the Kor River basin in southern Iran. 

Zoogeography

This is the southernmost Alburnoides species and may have entered the Kor River basin by headwater capture from the Tigris-Euphrates River basin.

Habitat

The qanat stream at 15.00 hours on 6 October 1976 had clear and colourless water, a temperature of 21°C, pH 6.8, conductivity 0.475 mS, the current was slow to medium, stream width was about 2 m and maximum depth was up to 1 m, the shore was grassy, plant life in the stream consisted of encrusting and submergent types, and the stream bed was gravel and mud.

Age and growth

Unknown.

Food

Unknown.

Reproduction

Unknown.

Parasites and predators

Unknown.

Economic importance

None.

Conservation

The numbers and wider distribution of this species should be researched as it is known from only two localities.

Further Work

See under Conservation. Biology is unknown.

Sources

Type material: See above.

Iranian material: CMNFI 1979-0060, 4, 21.0-35.4 mm SL, Fars, spring and irrigation channel, 7 km north of Sa’adatabad (30°06’N, 53°12’E).

Alburnoides taeniatus
(Kessler, 1874)

Reported from the Tedzhen River basin (Aliev et al., 1988), Karakum Canal, Kopetdag Reservoir and Uzboi lakes (Shakirova and Sukhanova, 1994; Sal'nikov, 1995) in Turkmenistan on the northeastern border of Iran. It may eventually reach the Caspian Sea basin and the Tedzhen (= Hari) River basin of Iran. No Iranian record.

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© Brian W. Coad (www.briancoad.com)