Common names

ماهي مرواريد or مرواريد ماهي (= mahi morvarid or morvarid mahi, meaning pearl fish), kuli (= general term for small fish), كولي ايراني (= kuli-ye Irani).

[simali gafgaz kumuscasi for A. c. charusini or zagafgaziya kumuscasi for A. c. hohenackeri, both in Azerbaijan; ukleika or bleak, zakavkazskaya ukleika or Transcaucasian bleak, persidskaya ukleika or Persian bleak, sefidrudskaya ukleika or Safid River bleak, all in Russian; Caucasian bleak (as A. hohenackeri)].

Systematics

Cyprinus Alburnus was originally described from Europe.

Synonyms are Alburnus Hohenackeri Kessler, 1877 from Karabakh, Azerbaijan, on the Kura River, Alburnus charusini Herzenstein in Zograff and Kavraiskii, 1889 described from the Kamysh-Samarskie lakes between the Volga and Ural rivers in Kazakhstan, Alburnus alasanicus Kamenskii, 1901 from the Alasan, Alazan' or Alazani River, a left bank Kura River tributary in Georgia, Alburnus lucidus var. macropterus Kamenskii, 1901 described from the Alazan' River, Alburnus alburnus charusini natio elata Petrov, 1926 from the Prorva River (lower reaches of the Terek River), the Sulak River and the Divichi Liman, western Caspian Sea, Alburnus striatus Petrov, 1926 from "Kizil-Agachskogo Zaliva" (Kizil-Agach Bay, Turkmenistan) and "Astrabadskogo Zaliva" (= Astrabad or Gorgan Bay, Iran), and Alburnus alburnus natio dagestanicus Petrov, 1930 (sic) but later in the same paper given, and probably originally meant, as A. a. charusini n. dagestanicus) described from the "Kaukasusküste des Kaspische Meeres".

Alburnus pseudospirlinus Petrov, 1926 from "Novaya Rechkaya (nizov'ya Sefid-Rud)" (= new stream, lower Safid River) is a hybrid of this species and Alburnoides bipunctatus (Berg, 1948-1949). A hybrid with Alburnus filippi was described from the Kumbashinka River in the Lenkoran and from the Safid River (Petrov, 1926).

The holotype of Alburnus charusini is in the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University under MMSU P.1314. Four fish as listed as questionable syntypes under MMSU P.1812 by Svetovidova (1978) although according to Eschmeyer et al. (1996) the original says P.1314 with a unique holotype only.

The holotype of Alburnus hohenackeri is in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg (ZISP 2839).

This species was recognised as Alburnus charusini in Iran but characters overlap with Alburnus alburnus, a highly variable species (Gäsowska, 1974). In any case hohenackeri has priority over charusini. Literature sources conflict on the correct name. Petrov (1926; 1930) refers to Alburnus alburnus hohenackeri Kessler, 1877 for fish in northern Iran with natio persicus Petrov, 1926 in the Safid River, natio dagestanicus Petrov, 1930 in the Dagestan area of Azerbaijan and natio kumbashensis Petrov, 1926 from the Kumbashinka River and Lake Ol'khovskoye in the Lenkoran area of Azerbaijan. Natio are not recognised by the Zoological Code of Nomenclature (Ride et al., 1985). Liška and Pivnička (1985) refer southern and southeastern populations of this species to Alburnus alburnus albidus Costa, 1838, and this would include the Iranian populations. These fish are separated from the type subspecies by having 39-47 lateral line scales, most frequently 42-44 (44-54, most frequently 47-50 in A. a. alburnus), branched anal fin rays 10-17, most frequently 13-15 (14-21, most frequently 16-19), and head length as % of body length 22-27 most frequently 23-25 (19-25, most frequently 21-23). N. Bogutskaya (pers. comm., 1995) and Reshetnikov et al. (1997) refer Iranian fish to Alburnus alburnus hohenackeri as there is a definite character break at the Terek River separating northern populations from southern ones. Petrov (1930) came to a similar conclusion on the name of the Iranian populations in his study as noted above. Aburakhmanov (1962) too refers the taxon hohenackeri to fish found in the Kura and Aras rivers and in rivers of the Lenkoran coast (and presumably the Iranian coast) while his charusini are north of the Apsheron Peninsula. Bogutskaya and Naseka (2004) and Kottelat and Freyhof (2007) recognise A. hohenackeri as a distinct species and this may prove to be the name for Iranian fish. For the moment, I refer Iranian fish to Alburnus alburnus without any subspecies designation until a detailed comparative study over the whole range of the species can be undertaken.

Key characters

This species can be confused with Alburnoides bipunctatus which has similar scale, fin ray and pharyngeal counts. A key distinction is the total gill raker count of 16-29 (usually 20 or more) in this species as opposed to 5-12, usually 7-10 in Alburnoides. Alburnus rakers are more than twice as long as those in Alburnoides and, being more numerous, are crowded on the arch without the large gaps between individual rakers which characterises Alburnoides. Modal dorsal fin branched ray count of 8 separates it from A. filippii and lower scale counts from A. alburnus, the other Alburnus species with a long and naked ventral keel.

Morphology

Dorsal fin branched rays 7-9, usually 8, after 2-4 unbranched rays, anal fin branched rays 10-21 after 3-4 unbranched rays (note that anal fin count will be a narrower range if A. hohenackeri is recognised as distinct from a widespread A. alburnus (see Iranian counts below). Pectoral fin branched rays 11-16 and pelvic fin branched rays 6-9. Lateral line scales 36-55. Scales bear both anterior and posterior radii with a few curved radii in the lateral fields. The focus is subcentral anterior and circuli are numerous and fine. The naked ventral keel is often wholly or partially covered by scales. Gill rakers 15-29, elongate reaching the third, or rarely second, below when appressed. Vertebrae 36-46. Pharyngeal teeth 2,5-5,2 with variants 2,5-5,1, 2,5-5,3, 1,5-5,2, 1,5-5,1, 2,5-4,2, 2,4-5,2, 2,4-5,1, 2,4-4,2, 1,5-4,2, 2,5-4,1, 1,5-4,1, 1,4-4,1. The elongate and narrow teeth bear a strongly hooked tip and have evident serrations in most specimens although some lack them entirely. The gut is an elongate s-shape with a small anterior loop. The posterior end of the swimbladder is rounded (pointed in Alburnus chalcoides). The chromosome number is 2n=50-52, generally 50 (Klinkhardt et al., 1995).

The natio persicus from the Safid River has dorsal fin branched rays 7-9, anal fin branched rays 12-16 and lateral line scales 40-45. Fish from the Kura-Aras basin and Lenkoran (hohenackeri) have anal fin branched rays 10-15, lateral line scales 38-48, pharyngeal teeth 2,5-5,2, total gill rakers 16-25 and total vertebrae 37-42 (courtesy of N. Bogutskaya, Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg).

Meristics for Iranian fish including Petrov's (1930) counts of dorsal and anal branched rays and lateral line scales for Safid River fish are:- branched dorsal fin rays 7(7), 8(76) or 9(8); branched anal fin rays 12(6), 13(37), 14(28), 15(16) or 16(2); branched pectoral fin rays 12(2), 13(18), 14(17) or 15(3); branched pelvic fin rays 7(11) or 8(29); lateral line scales 39(2), 40(8), 41(10), 42(28), 43(13), 44(9), 45(7), 46(1), 47(1), 48(1), or 50(1); total gill rakers 19(1), 20(2), 21(18), 22(7), 23(5), 24(4) or 25(3); pharyngeal teeth 2,5-5,2(13), 2,5-4,2(11), 2,5-4,1(1), 2,4-5,2(2) or 2,4-4,2(1); and total vertebrae 37(2), 38(24), 39(20), 40(7) or 41(1).

Sexual dimorphism

Tubercles line the edge of each scale and in single file line the rays of all fins. Fine tubercles cover the whole head.

Colour

The overall colour is bright silvery with the posterior scale margins grey on the upper flank. The back is dark blue to olive or bluish-green and is sharply distinct from the lighter flanks. The mid-line of the back has a narrow dark line. The lateral line and the area above it have some pigmentation, concentrated along the lateral line itself, but there is no dark stripe or it is only faintly developed and is bluish or greyish. Above this stripe is an iridescent golden-green stripe only visible at a certain angle. The bluish or greyish stripe is more evident in preserved material. The belly and lower head surface are pearly-white. The iris is silvery with a yellow ring along the outer eye rim but very little around the pupil. The upper part of the iris may have some dark pigment. The dorsal and caudal fins have dark rays and transparent membranes but may be a dirty yellow. Membranes may have some pigment, particularly on the dorsal fin. The upper anterior edge of the pectoral fin has a little dark pigment while the rest of the fin is colourless to grey or orange. Some fish have a yellow base to the pectoral fin. The pelvic and anal fins are usually colourless, although the anal rays may have some grey or there may be some yellow, orange or red on the fin generally. The caudal fin tip is dark grey.

In preserved fish, most flank pigment is above the lateral line. Lateral line scales have pigment both above and below the pore so the pore stands out. This is not as distinctive as in Alburnoides bipunctatus. A mid-dorsal stripe is more evident in smaller fish and is obscured by the generally darker back and upper flank pigmentation in larger fish. The peritoneum is a light silvery with scattered melanophores. A flank stripe may be developed although not as strongly as in Alburnus filippii; the stripe is more a darker area along the muscle mass divide between a lighter upper flank and lower flank.

Size

Reaches 20 cm.

Distribution

Found from England through Europe and east to the Caspian Sea basin or narrowly the western and southern Caspian Sea basin as A. hohenackeri. It is reported from the Aras River (including the upper reaches of its tributary, the Qara Su) to the Atrak River along the Caspian coast of Iran including the Anzali Talab and Gorgan Bay (Derzhavin, 1934; Holčík and Oláh, 1992; Kiabi et al., 1999; Abbasi et al., 1999). Also widely introduced across western, central and eastern Iran, including in the Ab-e Sirvan in the upper Diyala River, in the Zayandeh River of the Esfahan basin, in the Kalshur, Jajarm and Qareh Su of northeastern Kavir basin, and in the Hamun Kushk, and Kahak and Sistan dams of the Sistan basin, and possibly in Minab (= Esteghlal) Dam (A. Abdoli, pers. comm., 1995; J. Holčík, in litt., 1996;.Abdoli, 2000; Ghorbani Chafi, 2000; A. Afzali, pers. comm., 2002).

Zoogeography

This is a widespread species showing great morphological variability over its range, sometimes recognised as taxa. Zoogeographical relationships of these taxa and of the species to other Alburnus have still to be worked out.

Habitat

This species is found in open waters of lakes along the shore or in slow rivers, avoiding turbid conditions and heavy vegetation. There was a mass mortality, presumed to be of this species, on the Babol Sar beach on 24 June 1963 (USNM 270909). It is found more abundantly at river estuaries along the Iranian Caspian shore than Alburnus filippii (Jolodar and Abdoli, 2004).

Age and growth

Maturity is attained at 3 years and life span is up to 9 years. In more northern waters, most spawning males are 3+ and 4+ years while females are 5+ and 6+ years. Iranian populations probably have a similar structure but the age groups would be lower. Mature males averaged 9.7 cm and females 10.5 cm in one study in Russia (Berg, 1948-1949).

Food

Food is planktonic crustaceans, benthic crustaceans such as amphipods, flying insects which land on the water surface, aquatic insects such as backswimmers (Notonectidae), algae, diatoms, and fish eggs and fry. It is an important prey item for other fishes.

Reproduction

Spawning in Europe takes place from April to July in shallow water over a hard bottom. June is the main spawning month in Azerbaijan judging by egg diameters and condition factors (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). Older fish spawn first. Water temperature is usually at 15-16°C or more. Spawning takes place in 3-6 stages at intervals of 9-11 days. The eggs adhere to stones, branches or vegetation. Fecundity is up to 10,000 eggs and egg diameter to 1.4 mm. Incubation lasts about 1 week. Iranian specimens had 1.1 mm diameter eggs in a sample caught on 11 June and mature males were collected on 10 July. Specimens collected in September showed egg resorption while those taken in December had small, developing eggs and those taken in April with better developed eggs. The specimens were small and spawning probably occurs in July for these fish and possibly June for larger ones.

Parasites and predators

Molnár and Jalali (1992) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus parvus, D. alatus and D. chalcalburni from Alburnus charusini on the Safid Rud.

Gussev et al. (1993b) report the monogenean, Dactylogyrus chalcalburni, from this species in the Zayandeh Rud but this fish does not occur there. The parasite may have been found in Alburnus mossulensis. Shamsi et al. (1997) report Clinostomum complanatum, a parasite causing laryngo-pharyngitis in humans, from this species.

Some European populations of Sander lucioperca feed almost exclusively on this species. Spent adults are known to eat their own eggs.

Economic importance

The scales contain silvery crystals of guanine which are extracted and used to make essence d'orient (or pearl essence) for artificial pearls. About 5000 fish are required for 100 g of essence. Schools in the lower Don River of the Black Sea number up to 10 million fish weighing 30 tonnes. This abundant species is of indirect commercial importance as food for more valued fishes but it has also been used as food for humans.

Conservation

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), and present in other water bodies in Iran. Endangered in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007). 

Further work

The biology of this species needs investigation, especially in relation to habitats and other fish species where it has been introduced by accident.

Sources

Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0510, 8, 44.5-72.1 mm standard length, Gilan, Golshan River (37º26'N, 49º40'E); CMNFI 1970-0580, 27, 33.9-56.1 mm standard length, Mazandaran, river near Iz Deh (36º36'N, 52º07'E); CMNFI 1970-0589, 21, 22.5-67.9 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River (37º12'N, 49º54'E); CMNFI 1971-0343, 1, 63.5 mm standard length, Gilan, Langarud at Chamkhaleh (37º13'N, 50º16'E); CMNFI 1979-0265, 30, 61.6-90.4 mm standard length, Gilan, head of Anzali Mordab at Abkenar (37º28'N, 49º20'E); CMNFI 1979-0432, 22, 34.4-54.3 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Sardab River branch (36º41'N, 51º22'E); CMNFI 1979-0435, 1, 51.9 mm standard length, Gilan, stream 10 km west of Ramsar (36º57'N, 50º37'E); CMNFI 1979-0480, 6, 14.4-64.3 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Gorgan Rver at Gonbad-e Kavus (37º15'30"N, 55º09'E); CMNFI 1980-0122, 41, 29.8-59.0 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Nerissi River (36º38'N, 52º16'E); CMNFI 1980-0147, 5, 44.3-61.5 mm standard length, Gilan, Lashtenesha River (37º21'N, 49º52'E).

Alburnus atropatenae
Berg, 1925

Common names

None.

Systematics

The type series is the material called Alburnus filippii by Günther (1899) from "Sujbulak and Superghan near the mouth of the Nazlu Chai" as noted in Berg (1925). This material is in the Natural History Museum, London under BM(NH) 1899.9.30:127, syntype, 1 specimen, 89.7 mm Sl, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Superghan near the mouth of the Nazlu Chai (Sopurghan on the Nazlu Chay is at 37°45'N, 45°12'E); BM(NH) 1899.9.30:128-30, syntypes, 3, 70.7-96.3 mm Sl, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Tatawa Chai near Sujbulak (the Tata'u Chay or Simineh River is not close to Saujbulagh or Mahabad at 36°45'N, 45°43'E so the exact locality of this collection is unclear).

These syntypes bear an external label, apparently in A. Günther's handwriting, listing these fish under the name "brevianalis" which is crossed out and filippii substituted. It appears that Günther originally intended to describe them as distinct and subsequently changed his mind.

Berg's (1925) material was not found in a search of the collections of the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg (ZISP) in November 1993. Eschmeyer et al. (1996) give the following data: Syntypes: (46) ZIL (ZIL being the old acronym for ZISP) but this material is presumably comparative specimens mentioned by Berg (1925).

Coad and Holčík (1999) demonstrated variation between three populations isolated by the salt Lake Orumiyeh but considered this variation as insufficiently different to warrant taxonomic distinction. Nonetheless, the analysis demonstrated that the three populations have diverged in a measurable manner, presumably through geographical isolation, although ecological factors may have played a part as one sample was from a lacustrine rather than a riverine environment.

Key characters

This species is distinguished from its relatives in the former genus Chalcalburnus (having a short, naked ventral keel) by a combination of characters:-

Species	Total gill rakers	Branched anal fin rays	Pored scales in lateral line	Peritoneum colour
atropatenae	11-16	9-12	46-63	black
chalcoides	18-31	12-19	54-74	light brown
mossulensis	11-18	10-14	58-89	brown to black
tarichi (Lake Van, Turkey)	26-29	9-11	65-82	light brown

Morphology

Dorsal fin rays branched 7-9, modally 8, after 3 unbranched rays, anal fin branched rays 9-12 after 3 unbranched rays, pectoral fin branched rays 13-16 and pelvic fin branched rays 7-8. Lateral line scales 46-63. There is a pelvic axillary scale. The scale focus is slightly anterior or central and there are relatively few anterior and posterior radii about equal in number. The exposed fleshy keel in front of the anus is about 1-4 scales lengths, usually 2, long. Gill rakers lanceolate but short, less than half eye width, reaching between the first and second adjacent rakers or touching the second when appressed, total numbering 11-16. Pharyngeal teeth are hooked at the tip and usually bear a few, large serrations on the larger major row teeth or more rarely have no serrations, apparently size independent. The posteriormost major row tooth may be dorsal rather than posterior to the tooth ahead of it. Tooth counts are usually 2,5-4,2. The gut is an elongate s-shape, sometimes with an anterior loop to the left. Total vertebrae 41-43.

Meristic values for Iranian material: dorsal fin branched rays 7(2), 8(102) or 9(1); anal fin branched rays 9(5), 10(49), 11(45) or 12(6); pectoral fin branched rays 13(7), 14(44), 15(41) or 16(13); pelvic fin branched rays 7(17) or 8(88); lateral line scales 46(4), 47(5), 48(12), 49(15), 50(13), 51(15), 52(14), 53(5), 54(5), 55(5), 56(2), 58(6) or 63(1); total gill rakers 11(12), 12(30), 13(35), 14(16), 15(7) or 16(2); pharyngeal tooth counts 2,5-4,2(54), 2,4-4,2(2), 2,4-5,2(1), 2,5-5,2(1), 1,5-4,2(1) or 2,5-3,2(1); and total vertebrae 41(4), 42(12) or 43(3).

Sexual dimorphism

Male specimens have small scattered tubercles on the top of the head with fewer tubercles on the side of the head. Tubercles are variably distributed on the head depending on the specimen, or even be different on each side of a single fish. A distinct row may parallel the upper lip, another row may follow the upper eye margin, a patch may be present between the nostril and the upper lip, and there may be tubercles between the mouth and the eye. Very small tubercles line the scale margins on the back, flank and belly and belly scales have a fine row of tubercles on the scale base. Tubercles line the rays of the pectoral, dorsal, pelvic and anal fins and weakly on the caudal fin, the rows branching with the fin rays.

Colour

The back is a dark olive brown to grey, with a narrow stripe. The flank has a dark stripe, as wide as the pupil of the eye, extending onto the head as far as the eye and back to the middle of the caudal fin. The stripe is black to dark green. The flank above the stripe is often lighter in contrast to the darker back and accentuates the distinctiveness of the stripe. The flank below this stripe, the belly and the lower head are silvery, and the stripe is clearly set off from the lower flank. The front of the lower jaw is dark and some of this pigment extends into the floor of the mouth. The iris is silvery on the lower half and dark above. The dorsal fin is faintly pigmented grey along its rays, the caudal fin is grey and the other fins are colourless. Melanophores are present on the dorsal and caudal fin rays and the anterior rays of the pectoral, pelvic and anal fin rays. The nostrils may be dark. The peritoneum is black.

Size

Reaches 21.8 cm.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Lake Orumiyeh basin and is recorded from the Kazim-chai, Ozband River, Talkheh, Zarrineh and Tatavi rivers (Günther, 1899; Berg, 1925; Abdoli, 2000).

Zoogeography

Lake Orumiyeh was formed during the late Pliocene-Pleistocene, lies at 1275-1295 m, and may well have had a Pleistocene connection to the Caspian Sea basin although this is in dispute (Scharlu, 1968; Schweizer, 1975). Pleistocene shorelines from 30 to 115 m above the present level have been confirmed, and the lake covered twice its present area, but this would not permit an external discharge. Berg (1940) reports benches at levels of about 1800 m, 1650-1550 m and 1500-1360 m, which may represent shorelines, and a level of about 1570 m would have had an outlet to the Aras River basin through the Kara-tepe Pass in the northwest and across the plain near the city of Khvoy. Saadati (1977) suggests two connections with the Caspian Sea, an early one in the Pliocene to early Pleistocene resulting in endemic species and a later one in the late Pleistocene resulting in species which are the same as the Caspian or only subspecifically distinct. A. atropatenae may have its origin in the earlier transgression.

Habitat

Unknown.

Age and growth

Unknown.

Food

Gut contents are insects, crustaceans and worms. Filamentous algae are also present, possibly as accidental inclusions.

Reproduction

Fish captured 25-27 June carried mature eggs.

Parasites and predators

None reported from Iran.

Economic importance

Unknown.

Conservation

Biology is poorly known and numbers and habitat requirements would have to be examined for a conservation assessment.

Further work

The biology of this species requires a detailed study.

Sources

Type material. See above, Alburnus atropatenae (BM(NH) 1899.9.30:127, 1899.9.30:128-30).

Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0557, 26, 17.9-31.6 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Shaher Chay (ca. 37º27'N, ca. 44º55'E); CMNFI 1970-0558, 8, 25.0-88.7 mm standard length, Azarbayjan- e Bakhtari, Qasemlu Chay (ca. 37º21'N, ca. 45º09'E); CMNFI 1970-0559, 48, 31.4-85.2 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Baranduz Chay (37º25'N, 45º10'E); CMNFI 1979-0785, 11, 72.6-123.8 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Shaher Chay (ca. 37º27'N, ca. 44º55'E); CMNFI 1979-0786, 26, 65.0-92.2 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Guru Lake (37º55'N, 46º24'E); CMNFI 2007-0096, 1, 54.7 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Qasemlu River in Baranduz Chay basin (ca. 37º25'N, ca. 45º10'E); CMNFI 2007-0097, 2, 42.0-54.9 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Baranduz Chay basin (ca. 37º16'N, ca. 45º08'E); CMNFI 2007-0103, 6, 43.3-73.3 mm standard length, Kordestan, Zarrineh River basin (ca. 36º18'N, ca. 46º16'E); CMNFI 2007-0105, 6, 67.3-112.1 mm standard length, Kordestan, Zarrineh River basin (ca. 36º06'N, ca. 46º20'E); OSU 8122, 2, 73.1-83.5 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Shaher Chay (ca. 37º27'N, ca. 44º55'E); USNM 205904, 2, 73.0-82.6 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Nazlu Chay (37º40'N, 45º05'E); uncatalogued, 1, 81.6 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Haladj River near Mahabad (ca. 36º45'N, ca. 45º43'E) (Coad and Holčík, 1999).

Alburnus caeruleus
Heckel, 1843

Reported from the Tigris River basin in Iraq (Khalaf, 1961; Mahdi, 1962; Freshwater Fishes of Iraq, q.v.) but no Iranian records.

Alburnus chalcoides
(Güldenstaedt, 1772)

Common names

شاه كولي (shah kuli or shah kooli in Gilaki; kuli is widely used for any small fish and may derive from kul which can mean any pond or sheet of water) or شاه ماهي  (= shah mahi menaing royal fish or king fish in the sense of the best or most important fish); mahi shah kuli; كاس كولي (= kas-e kuli, meaning cup or bowl fish?); aslak in Mazandaran, siah kole (= presumably siah kuli, black fish), safid kuli (= white fish).

[samayi, schamay or schumai, Lankaran samayisi for A. chalcoides longissimus, Kur samayisi for A. chalcoides, all in Azerbaijan; Iranskaya shemaya or Iranian shemaya, Lenkoranskaya shemaya or Lenkoran shemaya, shemaya or shamaya in Russian; Caspian shemaya; bleak, Danube bleak].

Systematics

Cyprinus chalcoides was originally described from the Terek, Sulak and Cyrus (= Kura) rivers, Russia.

Cyprinus clupeoides Pallas, 1776 from the Caspian Sea, Terek and Kura rivers (also spelt clupoides in error), possibly Leuciscus albuloides Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844 from "rivières de Perse", Alburnus longissimus Warpakhovskii, 1892 from the Geoktapinka River, Lenkoran District, Azerbaijan and Alburnus latissimus Kamenskii, 1901 from the mouth of the Kura River, Azerbaijan are synonyms. Since Alburnus latissimus occurs with Alburnus chalcoides in the Kura River, its status is necessarily equivocal.

Chalcalburnus chalcoides iranicus Svetovidov, 1945 was described as the subspecies of the Iranian shore of the Caspian Sea basin and Alburnus chalcoides longissimus Warpakhovskii, 1892 as the subspecies of the Lenkoran in Azerbaijan neighbouring Iran. Coad (1996b) examined the types of iranicus and longissimus and found them not to be distinguishable. The latter name has priority but both these nominal subspecies, and latissimus, are most probably not distinct from the type subspecies. They were founded on small samples from relatively homogenous spawning populations. Variation may be clinal or related to local temperature and other environmental variables. A very large series of specimens would be necessary to define this.

The Caspian Sea species may be Alburnus chalcoides chalcoides with a distinct subspecies, Alburnus chalcoides mento (Heckel, 1836), in the Black Sea basin although up to 13 subspecies are named from Anatolia and the basins of the Black, Caspian and Aral seas.

The type material of Chalcalburnus chalcoides iranicus is in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg (ZISP 31231, holotype (see below), and 3 paratypes 142.0-199.9 mm standard length), the type locality being "a small stream near the hospital near Shahi, Talar River basin" on labels in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg and "a small river in the vicinity of town Shakhi (basin of the river Talar, running into the Caspian Sea west of the Gorgan Bay" (Svetovidov, 1945b). Shahi or Qa'emshahr is at 36°28'N, 52°53'E. Svetovidov (1945b) lists the holotype as a female of total length 263.5 mm and body length 226 mm but the holotype in ZISP is 216.7 mm standard length (Coad, 1996b).

The type material of Alburnus longissimus is in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg (ZISP 8653, 2 syntypes, 164.8-185.9 mm standard length, from "Fl. Geoktapinka" (Lenkoran). The locality is probably near Prishib at 39°08'N, 48°36'E (Coad, 1996b). ZISP 8654 (6 fish, 121.2-164.4 mm standard length) from the type locality are listed as types in Berg (1911-1914) but not in the ZISP catalogue. Also an A. longissimus syntype from St. Petersburg is in the Natural History Museum, London from "R. Geotapinka" (BM(NH) 1891.10.7:28).

Bagherian and Rahmani (2007) examined two populations, from the Haraz River and the Shirud, morphometrically. The males and the females between the two populations were different, but this was attributed to environmental factors.

A hybrid of Alburnus chalcoides and Vimba vimba persa was reported from the Safid River (Petrov, 1926) and a hybrid between Leuciscus (= Squalius) cephalus and Alburnus chalcoides is reported from Turkey (Ünver and Erk'akan, 2005).

Key characters

The short, naked ventral keel, usually 8 branched dorsal fin rays, distribution, and the characters in the table under A. atropatenae can be used to identify this species.

Morphology

Lateral line scales 54-74. The dorsal and ventral scale margins are parallel or rounded and the anterior margin is wavy or has a pronounced central protuberance. The posterior scale margin can be rounded and more or less smooth or rounded and finely crenulate. Crenulation may be related to size or sexual maturity but is not always evident even in spawning males. Circuli are numerous and fine, radii are few and present on the anterior and posterior fields (a few fish had some scales with no anterior radii), and the focus is slightly subcentral anterior. There is a well-developed pelvic axillary scale. The ventral keel is only naked near the vent and rarely may be scaled along its entire length although Kottelat and Freyhof (2007) have an exposed keel of 8-12 scale lengths, up to 80% of the anus to pelvic fin base distance. Dorsal fin with 2-3, usually 3, unbranched and 7-9, usually 8, branched rays, anal fin with 3 unbranched and 12-19 branched rays, pectoral fin branched rays 13-16, and pelvic fin branched rays 7-9. Ginzburg (1936b) gives counts of 13(7), 14(34), 15(52), and 16(7) for anal fin rays from Iranian material, modally different from my counts below (possibly the last two rays were counted separately but variation between samples is also possible). Gill rakers 18-31, serrated medially and elongate, reaching the second or third adjacent raker when appressed. Total vertebrae 43-45. Pharyngeal teeth 2,5-5,2, more rarely 2,5-5,1, 2,5-5,3, 2,5-5,4, or 3,5-5,3. Teeth are elongate, slender, curved inward, strongly hooked at the tip and strongly serrated with serrations on the anterior margin of the long, narrow and concave grinding surface. The most posterior main row tooth may lie medial to the second tooth. The swimbladder is pointed posteriorly (rounded in Alburnus alburnus and A. filippii). The gut is an elongate s-shape. Total vertebrae 41-45.

Meristics in Iranian specimens: dorsal fin branched rays 7(3), 8(55) or 9(2); anal fin branched rays 12(1), 13(4), 14(33), 15(19) or 16(3); pectoral fin branched rays 13(4), 14(9), 15(34) or 16(13); pelvic fin branched rays 7(2), 8(57) or 9(1); lateral line scales 54(1), 55(2), 56(2), 57(5), 58(8), 59(5), 60(14), 61(7), 62(5), 63(6), 64(2), 65(1), 66(1) or 67(1); total gill rakers 18(1), 19(5), 20(12), 21(15), 22(14), 23(9), 24(3) or 25(1); pharyngeal teeth 2,5-5,2(30), 2,5-4,2(1), 2,4-5,2(1) or 2,5-5,3(1); and total vertebrae 42(2), 43(9), 44(32) or 45(7).

Sexual dimorphism

Abdurakhmanov (1962) reports the eye diameter and anal fin base to be larger in males on average for fish from the Kura River basin in Azerbaijan. Iranian males taken in July have small tubercles scattered on top of the head and fine tubercles lining the anterior flank scales. Females are larger than males (Bagherian and Rahmani, 2007)

Colour

The overall colour is metallic silvery and the back is a contrasting olive-green. The iris is bright silver. There is no dark band along the sides. The dorsal and caudal fins are greyish and the other fins colourless to whitish. The peritoneum is light brown but with numerous melanophores in contrast to the dark peritoneum in A. mossulensis.

Size

Reaches 40 cm and 410 g. Shemaya on the Kura River of Azerbaijan are larger than those in the south Caspian, up to 36 cm as opposed to 29 cm.

Distribution

Found from central Europe to the basins of the Black, western and southern Caspian and Aral seas. It is recorded from the entire southern coast of the Caspian Sea and its rivers (Derzhavin, 1934; Kozhin, 1957; Svetovidov, 1945b; Holčík and Oláh, 1992; Shamsi et al., 1997; Abbasi et al., 1999); Kiabi et al., 1999; Abdoli, 2000).

Alburnus chalcoides aralensis Berg, 1926 is reported from the Karakum Canal in Turkmenistan (Shakirova and Sukhanova, 1994; Sal'nikov, 1995) and may eventually be found in the Tedzhen River and Caspian Sea basins of Iran.

Zoogeography

A widespread species with numerous nominal subspecies which have not all been fully investigated. It presumably originated as part of a Danubian or Sarmatian fauna and the subspecies have become isolated in parts of this former basin.

Habitat

Young are rheophilous (Abdurakhmanov, 1975). A migration to piedmont and montane zones used to occur before dams and weirs obstructed movements. Some populations are landlocked while others are semi-anadromous. Knipovich (1921) reports this species from depths of 23.8-25.6 m in the Iranian Caspian Sea. Kottelat and Freyhof (2007) record a tolerance of 14‰ salinity. Riazi (1996) reports that this species is native (resident) to the Siah-Keshim Protected Region of the Anzali Mordab. Shape differences found by Bagherian and Rahmani (2007) in two Iranian rivers were attributed to the Haraz River having a muddy estuary, a shallow slope to the bottom, high turbidity and low water flow in contrast to the Shirud which was sandy with high water flow and high clarity. The latter population developed a more slender body due to increased resistance to water flow.

Age and growth

Life span is 5 years with a theoretical limit of 6.5 years in Azerbaijan (Abdurakhmanov, 1975) and at least 5 years in Iran (Holčík and Oláh, 1992) and Turkey (Tarkan et al., 2005). Sexual maturity is attained at 3 years of age in Azerbaijan and growth is most rapid at an age of 2 years, decreasing thereafter because of high natural mortality (Abdurakhmanov, 1975). The fishes on the spring spawning run in the Anzali Mordab are 10.5-29.0 cm standard length, average 14.0 cm, and 2-5 years old with most (63%) fish in age group 3. Males are mature at 2-4 years and females at 3-5 years. Growth is high during the first 3 years of life and then declines (Holčík and Oláh, 1992). Karimpour et al. (1993) found the Anzali Mordab population to be smaller than the Kura River population but the mordab fish showed greater growth after maturation. The spawning migration into the mordab begins in March and peaks in May and at the beginning of June. Length range was 10.0-24.0 cm, average 16.2 cm with a mean weight of 64.7 g. Age composition was 2-5 years with 3-year-olds comprising 62.5% of the fish. Females formed 57% of the migrating fish.

Food

Holčík and Oláh (1992) report a feeding migration in July to September in the western basin of the Anzali Mordab. Gut contents include diatoms and algae, dragonfly larvae, and copepods (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). Iranian fish had plant fragments, sand grains, crustaceans, insect remains and chironomid larvae in gut contents.

Reproduction

This species is an intermittent spawner with three batches of eggs, only two of which are laid at an interval of 18-19 days. Fecundity reaches 54,700 eggs in Azerbaijan but this is less than that of diadromous populations. Egg diameter is up to 1.9 mm. Spawning takes place in the second half of July to the end of August at water temperatures of 18-25°C in the Mingechaur Reservoir in Azerbaijan. Eggs are laid on rocky bottoms in 15-20 cm of water after a migration into streams or on rocky grounds of reservoirs (Abdurakhmanov, 1962; 1975; Elanidze, 1983). There is a spawning migration into the Kura River from October to April, peaking in December-January, with spawning taking place in spring in the upper reaches (Berg, 1959). In Lake Tuş, Turkey spawning occurred in May-June, egg numbers reached 20,971 and average egg diameter 1.05 mm (Balık et al., 1996).

Svetovidov (1945b) considers that Iranian populations (his iranicus subspecies) spawn nearly throughout the year since fish having ripe sex products were caught in both July and February and young were found along the Iranian coast throughout the year. Spawning takes place in the sea, in areas such as Gorgan Bay, and in the lower reaches of rivers. Khaval (1998) reports a spawning migration into the Safid River despite construction, sand removal and pollution. Holčík and Oláh (1992) report a migration into the Anzali Mordab for spawning in late February to early April (but see above; possibly a confusion between the migration at an earlier date than the spawning act). Karimpour et al. (1993) give an absolute fecundity of 6630 eggs in the Anzali Mordab population while mean relative fecundity is 140 eggs/g of body weight. Iranian fish have 1.5 mm eggs as early as 13 March (fish standard length 213.2 mm) and 1.7 mm eggs on 4 June (fish length 154.6 mm) while eggs are only 1.3 mm on 15 July (fish length 142.8 mm). Larger fish may mature and spawn earlier than younger fish.

Parasites and predators

Molnár and Jalali (1992) report the monogeneans Dactylogyrus minor, D. alatus and D. vistulae from this species in the Ghasemlu River, an inland watershed, with the latter species also in the Safid Rud. They also describe a new species of monogenean, Dactylogyrus holciki, from this species in the Beshar River of the Persian Gulf drainage, possibly confusing this Caspian Sea basin cyprinid with A. mossulensis. Molnár and Jalali (1992) also record the monogenean Dactylogyrus chalcalburni from the Safid and Zayandeh rivers, although this Caspian Sea basin cyprinid does not occur in the latter locality, possibly again confusing the same species as noted above. 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 pseudodispar. The helminths Pentagramma symmetrica and Mazocea alaosa are recorded from the guts of Chalcaburnus tarichi (sic, presumably A. chalcoides) from the Anzali wetland (Ataee and Eslami, 1999; www.mondialvet99.com, downloaded 31 May 2000). Naem et al. (2002) found the following parasites on the gills of this species from the western branch of the Safid River, namely the monogenean trematodes Dactylogyrus chalcalburni and Gyrodactylus sp.. Sattari et al. (2005) surveyed this species in the Anzali wetlands, recording Anisakis sp. Sattari et al. (2007) record the nematode Anisakis sp., the digenean Diplostomum spathaceum and the monogenean Dactylogyrus extensus in this species in the Anzali wetland of the Caspian shore.

Economic importance

The shemaya was a valuable edible fish on the Kura River of Azerbaijan with catches as high as 500 centners (1 centner = 100 kg) prior to construction of the Kura dam. The catch for Azerbaijan in 1933 was 1950 centners or 2,029,000 fish. Catches in the Mingechaur Reservoir formed by the dam were 133 centners in 1972 (Abdurakhmanov, 1975). Reputedly delicious eating (Lönnberg, 1900b). They are fished for on the spawning run when fatty. In Iran they are caught by cast nets in the inlets and outlets of the Anzali Mordab in spring on the spawning run and by gill nets in the western basin on the feeding migration. Holčík and Oláh (1992) report a catch of 956 kg in the Anzali Mordab in 1990 but catches in recent years may have been confused with the exotic Hemiculter leucisculus (Holčík and Olah, 1990).

Conservation

Holčík and Oláh (1992) report a decline in the numbers of this species owing to damming of rivers where it used to spawn. Kiabi et al. (1999) consider this species to be near threatened in the south Caspian Sea basin according to IUCN criteria. Criteria include commercial fishing, sport fishing, abundant in numbers, habitat destruction, widespread range (75% of water bodies), absent in other water bodies in Iran, and present outside the Caspian Sea basin. Mostafavi (2007) lists it as near threatened in the Talar River, Mazandaran. Endangered in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007). 

This species has been artificially bred without hormones on the Shirrud with a fertilisation rate of 90-98%. Hatching took 6 days and the hatching rate was 57% (I.F.R.O. Newsletter, 36:4, 2003).

Robins et al. (1991) list this species as important to North Americans. Importance is based on its use in aquaculture and as food. Lelek (1987) classifies this species as vulnerable to endangered in Europe.

Further work

The various subspecies should be examined using molecular techniques and numbers of this species in Iranian rivers monitored for conservation management.

Sources

The types of C. chalcoides iranicus are included in the meristic data for Iranian specimens.

Type material: See above, Chalcalburnus chalcoides iranicus (ZISP 31231), Alburnus longissimus (ZISP 8653, ?8645, BM(NH) 1891.10.7:28).

Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0531, 4, 64.5-74.9 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Larim River (36º46'N, 52º58'E); CMNFI 1970-0553, 2, 101.9-163.1 mm standard length, Gilan, Sowsar Roga River (37º27'N, 49º30'E); CMNFI 1971-0327A, 2, 54.5-116.9 mm standard length, Gilan, Shafa River (37º35'N, 49º09'E); CMNFI 1979-0081, 7, 77.8-106.5 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Caspian Sea 3 km west of Chalus (36º41'N, 51º24'E); CMNFI 1979-0434, 4, 47.3-154.6 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Shir River (36º51'N, 50º49'E); CMNFI 1979-0435, 1, 170.5 mm standard length, Gilan, stream 10 km west of Ramsar (36º57'N, 50º37'E); CMNFI 1979-0437, 2, 164.5-175.6 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River 2 km west of Astaneh (37º16'30"N, 49º56'E); CMNFI 1979-0438, 12, 114.9-158.9 mm standard length, Gilan, Gholab Ghir River (37º27'N, 49º37'E); CMNFI 1979-0439, 2, 156.6-173.2 mm standard length, Gilan, Anzali Mordab (ca. 37º27'N, ca. 49º25'E); CMNFI 1979-0441, 1, 109.8 mm standard length, Gilan, river 14 km south of Hashtpar (37º42'N, 48º58'E); CMNFI 1979-0443, 1, 159.6 mm standard length, Gilan, river 34 km north of Hashtpar (38º06'N, 48º53'E); CMNFI 1979-0445, 1, 114.9 mm standard length, Gilan, stream 10 km south of Astara (38º21'N, 48º51'E); CMNFI 1979-0455, 1, 88.5 mm standard length, Zanjan, Qezel Owzan River at Gilavan (36º47'N, 49º08'E); CMNFI 1979-0474, 1, 141.0 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Tajan River (36º34'N, 53º05'E); CMNFI 1979-0686, 23, 25.5-111.0 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River (37º24'N, 49º598'E); CMNFI 1979-0788, 48, 35.2-74.7 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Gorgan River at Khadje Nafas (37º00'N, 54º07'E); CMNFI 1980-0120, 17, 56.4-69.5 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Babol River at Babol Sar (36º43'N, 52º39'E); CMNFI 1980-0123, 2, 97.0-106.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River around Dakha (no other locality data); CMNFI 1980-0126, 3, 182.1-213.2 mm standard length, Gilan, Caspian Sea near Bandar-e Anzali (37º28'N, 49º27'E); CMNFI 1980-0132, 7, 18.7-142.8 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Kisom (37º12'N, 49º54'E); CMNFI 1980-0142, 2, 135.0-187.2 mm standard length, Gilan, Nahang Roga River (37º28'N, 49º28'E); CMNFI 1980-0908, 3, 45.4-155.2 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River estuary (ca. 37º28'N, ca. 49º54'E).

Alburnus filippii
Kessler, 1877

Common names

كولي كورا (= kuli-ye Kura), ماهي مرواريد or مرواريد ماهي (= mahi morvarid or morvarid mahi, meaning pearl fish).

[Kur kumuscasi in Azerbaijan; Kurinskaya ukleika or Kura bleak, ukleika filippi or Filippi's bleak, both in Russian].

Systematics

The lectotype of Alburnus Filippii as designated by N. Bogutskaya is in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg (ZISP 2926) and is from "Fl. Kura pr. Tiflis", Acad. Brandt, 1867, 75.3 mm standard length. Paralectotypes are ZISP 2925, 13 fish, same data as lectotype, 43.0-84.4 mm standard length, ZISP 2914, 2 fish, "Fl. Kura pr. Borshoma", Acad. Brandt, 1867, 83.6-87.6 mm standard length, and ZISP 50412, 16 fish, "Reka Kura Tiflis", Acad. Brandt, 1867, 60.6-88.6 mm standard length. A syntype, 57.3 mm standard length, is in the Natural History Museum, London from Tiflis (BM(NH) 1897.7.5:33, formerly in ZISP).

Alburnus filipii var. Kessler in Brandt, 1880 from the Tchaldyr Lake is also this species.

Knipovich (1921) reports a Caspian basin species Alburnus philippii Kessler which is presumably a misspelling of filippii. The specific name is sometimes spelt filippi, which is incorrect.

Abdurakhmanov (1962) compares a sample from the Kura River basin with one from the Kendalanchaya in the Aras River basin of Azerbaijan and finds 15 characters are significantly different on average. Fish from the Kura have a longer head, greater dorsal and anal fin heights, and longer pectoral, pelvic and upper and lower caudal fin lobes while fish from the Aras have more scales in the lateral line, a deeper head, body and caudal peduncle, and a longer anal fin base, pectoral-pelvic fin distance and snout, and a greater interorbital width. No taxonomic status is assigned these two populations.

A hybrid with Alburnus charusini hohenackeri (= Alburnus alburnus) was reported by Petrov (1926) from the Safid River and the Kumbashinka in Lenkoran.

Key characters

This species is distinguished from its relative (Alburnus chalcoides, also with a long, naked ventral keel) by having modally 7 branched dorsal fin rays and generally lower anal fin ray counts although these do overlap (10-21, usually 12-16 in Iran for alburnus; 9-13, usually 10-12, for filippii). See also table under A. atropatenae.

Morphology

Dorsal fin with 3 unbranched and 6-8, usually 7, branched rays, anal fin with 2-3, usually 3, unbranched and 9-13 branched rays, usually 10-12. Pectoral fin branched rays 12-16, pelvic fin branched rays 6-8, usually 7. Lateral line scales 46-64. Scales have a wavy anterior margin, an overall vertical oval shape, sometimes tapering to a rounded posterior point and sometimes more rounded, few anterior and posterior radii, and a subcentral anterior focus. There is a pelvic axillary scale. The naked ventral keel usually extends more than half way from the anal papilla to the pelvic fin insertion but is often completely scaled, notably in fish from the Safid River basin. The scaled keel runs from the papilla to the pelvic fin base. Gill rakers 12-21, reaching the second or third adjacent raker when appressed. Pharyngeal teeth 2,5-5,2 (but see below for Iranian specimens) with variants 2,5-5,1, 1,5-5,2, 1,5-5,1, 2,5-4,2, 2,4-5,2, 2,5-4,1, 2,4-4,2, 1,5-4,1, 1,4-5,1, and 1,5-4,2. Teeth are stongly hooked and strongly serrated. Serrations are on the anterior margin of each tooth. The degree of hook and serration development varies individually and does not seem to be size related. Some fish have little development of either character. The area below the hook is an elongate, flat to concave surface. Vertebrae number 38-43. The swimbladder has a rounded end in contrast to the pointed end in Alburnus chalcoides. The gut is an elongate s-shape with a small anterior loop.

Meristic variation in Iranian specimens: dorsal fin branched rays 6(1), 7(44) or 8(5); anal fin branched rays 9(1), 10(19), 11(24), 12(5) or 13(1); pectoral fin branched rays 12(3), 13(19), 14(20), 15(7) or 16(1); pelvic fin branched rays 6(3), 7(42) or 8(5); lateral line scales 46(1), 49(1), 50(5), 51(5), 52(4), 53(12), 54(5), 55(2), 56(5), 57(6), 58(1), 60(2) or 63(1); total gill rakers 12(4), 13(8), 14(19), 15(10), 16(6) or 17(3); pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2(10), 2,4-5,2(2), 2,4-4,2(2), 2,5-5,2(1), 1,5-4,2(2), 1,5-5,2(1), 1,5-4,1(1) and 1,4-5,1(1); and total vertebrae 38(2), 39(8), 40(18), 41(9) or 42(1).

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females have moderate-sized tubercles widely scattered on the top of the head, on the snout and lining the lower edge of the jaw. Much smaller tubercles are scattered among the ones on top of the head.

Colour

The back is brown, flanks silvery and the belly white. A characteristic dark streak, as wide as the eye, runs along mid-flank. Fins are hyaline. The peritoneum is brown or light with large scattered melanophores.

Size

Reaches 17.0 cm standard length.

Distribution

Found only in the Caspian Sea basin from the Kura River of Azerbaijan to the Safid River of Iran including headwaters in Turkey, Armenia and Iran at altitudes over 3000 m. It is distributed from the upper to the lower reaches of the Aras (Qareh Su) and Safid (Qezel Owzan) rivers in Iran and in the Anzali Talab (Holčík and Oláh,1992; Abbasi et al., 1999; Kiabi et al., 1999).

Zoogeography

The relationships of this species with other Alburnus needs to be examined. It presumably originated as part of a Sarmatian fauna, isolated in the Caspian Sea.

Habitat

Primarily a freshwater species, this minnow may be found in the brackish outlets of the Anzali Mordab (Holčík and Oláh, 1992). Jolodar and Abdoli (2004) note that it is found more in upstream waters than A. alburnus.

Age and growth

Life span is about 5 years with maturity at 1 year for males and 2 years for females.

Food

Gut contents include plant remains, mayflies and algae (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). Iranian specimens contain insect remains, a few crustaceans and sand grains. One sample from the Qareh Su north of Ardebil had been feeding on water beetles (Hydrophilidae) but also spiders and scarab beetles (Euoniticellus sp.) indicating food is also taken from the surface.

Reproduction

Eggs number up to 14,210 and diameters up to 1.51 mm. May is the principal spawning month in Azerbaijan (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). Male fish caught on 6 June in Iran had tubercles scars on top of the head while female fish from another locality (Zanjan River) taken on 8 June had mature eggs measuring 1.2-1.3 mm. Spawning probably occurs in May and June in Iran, depending on local conditions.

Parasites and predators

Jalali et al. (2005) summarise the occurrence of Gyrodactylus species in Iran and record G. elegans in the Beheshtabad River. Mortazavi Tabrizi et al. (2005) record Ligula intestinalis and Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in this species from the Sattarkhan Dam in East Azerbaijan. Undoubtedly food for various predatory fishes. Pazooki et al. (2005) record Trichodina  perforata from this species in waterbodies of Zanjan Province. Pazooki et al. (2006) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus vistulae and Gyrodactylus sp. from this fish in Zanjan Province.

Economic importance

None.

Conservation

Kiabi et al. (1999) consider this species to be of least concern in the south Caspian Sea basin according to IUCN criteria. Criteria include medium numbers, habitat destruction, medium range (25-75% of water bodies), absent in other water bodies in Iran, and absent outside the Caspian sea basin. Vulnerable in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007).

Further work

The biology of this species needs investigation.

Sources

Type material: See above, Alburnus Filippii (ZISP 2926, 2925, 2914, 50412, BM(NH) 1897.7.5:33).

Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0538, 8, 34.9-61.8 mm standard length, Gilan, Qezel Owzan River (ca. 36º44'N, 49º24'E); CMNFI 1970-0552, 1, 50.1 mm standard length, Gilan, Sowsar Roga River (37º27'N, 49º30'E); CMNFI 1979-0448, 1, 70.9 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Ahar Chay 8 km from Ardabil (38º18'30"N, 48º22'E); CMNFI 1979-0452, 2, 52.4-54.9 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Qezel Owxan River 6 km from Mianeh (37º23'N, 47º45'E); CMNFI 1979-0453, 9, 43.7-73.3 mm standard length, Zanjan, Zanjan River (37º06'N, 47º56'E); CMNFI 1979-0455, 17, 42.8-62.5 mm standard length, Markazi, Manjil Dam (36º45'N, 49º17'E); CMNFI 1979-0695, 3, 61.3-63.5 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River (36º46'N, 49º24'E); CMNFI 2007-0081, 1, 51.0 mm standard length, Zanjan, Zanjan River near Soltaniyeh (ca. 36º27'N, ca. 48º45'E); CMNFI 2007-0082, 11, 41.2-59.6 mm standard length, Zanjan, Zanjan River basin near Zanjan (ca. 36º36'N, ca. 48º32'E); CMNFI 2007-0087, 6, 55.7-83.1 mm standard length, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Qareh Su north of Ardebil (38º22'N, 48º19'E); CMNFI 2007-0107, 3, 41.1-42.3 mm standard length, Kordestan, Qezel Owzan River basin near Bijar (ca. 35º54'N, ca. 47º20'E).

Alburnus mossulensis
Heckel, 1843

Common names

شاه كولي (shah kuli = king fish), shah kuli-ye jonubi (= southern king fish), شاه ماهي (= shah mahi, meaning king fish), shah kuli mosulenzis.

[simnan , semnan or samnan, semnan tuyel; sink, or zurri at Mosul (zurri also used for Chondrostoma regium according to Heckel (1846-1849a), but is also used for Aphanius spp., Gambusia and any small fishes or large fishes when young; all in Arabic; Mosul bleak].

Systematics

Leuciscus maxillaris Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844 from "rivières de Perse", probably Alburnus capito Heckel, 1843 from "Gebirgsflüssen Kurdistans" (mountain streams of Kurdistan in Heckel (1843b) or "Gebirgsbache in Kurdistan" in Heckel (1846-1849a)), Alburnus Iblis Heckel, 1849 described from the "Gegend um Persepolis oder den Gewässern des Araxes" (= probably the Pulvar (= Sivan) River near Persepolis and the Kor River, both in Fars), Alburnus Schejtan Heckel, 1849 described from the "Araxes bei Persepolis", Alburnus caudimacula Heckel, 1849 described from the "Flusse Kara-Agatsch und bei dem Dorfe Geré (= Qarah Aqaj or Mand River, Fars; possibly near Kereft, 29°01'N, 52°52'E), and Alburnus megacephalus Heckel, 1849 described from the "Araxes" are synonyms (e.g. according to Berg (1949)). The type locality of Alburnus mossulensis is the "Tigris bei Mossul" according to Heckel (1843b).

Saadati (1977) considers Alburnus caudimacula to be a distinct species found in the Mand River of Fars based on head length being longer (but the ranges overlap) and a shorter scaleless keel (which is individually variable in these fishes according to my observations).

A subspecies, Alburnus mossulensis delineatus Battalgil, 1942, is reported from Diyarbakir on the Tigris River in Turkey.

A hybrid with Acanthobrama marmid was reported from the Hawr al Hammar in southern Iraq by Krupp et al. (1992) who also note that A. mossulensis is probably a synonym of Alburnus sellal Heckel, 1843, a species originally described the Quwayq River at Aleppo. However, they retained mossulensis as a distinct species because of colour differences and the difficulty of obtaining fresh material of sellal in its polluted habitat at Aleppo in Syria (see Vesiland (1993) for habitat photograph). Heckel (1846-1849a) differentiates mossulensis from sellal by the former being more slender and elongate, the pelvic, dorsal and anal fins are more anterior so the caudal peduncle is more elongate, the eyes are larger and lower on the head, and there is a lead-coloured stripe separating the upper third of the body from the lower part. Berg (1949) considers that A. mossulensis may be nothing more than a subspecies of A. sellal. A Principal Components Analysis on the types of mossulensis and sellal using 32 morphometric and meristic characters showed some separation between the two taxa and a Discriminant Function Analysis separated most, but not all, specimens. The evidence is not conclusive for separation or synonymy and the taxa are left as distinct in this work.

If mossulensis is a synonym of sellal, then the nominal taxa Alburnus hebes Heckel, 1843, Alburnus microlepis Heckel, 1843 and Alburnus pallidus Heckel, 1843, all from the Kueik (= Quwayq) River at Aleppo (Heckel, 1843b), would have to be added to the synonymy of sellal as indicated by Berg (1949), Krupp (1985c) and Eschmeyer's "Catalog of Fishes" (downloaded 1 September 2007). The 3 syntypes of Alburnus hebes seen by me in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien were 58.8-156.5 mm standard length (NMW 17558-17560) (but Eschmeyer et al. (1996) list NMW 55523 for these syntypes, and the card index had this number in 1997; possibly they were renumbered). One of these fish is designated as the lectotype. The holotype of Alburnus microlepis (NMW 55655) measures 119 mm standard length (Krupp, 1985c). The holotype of Alburnus pallidus (NMW 55720) measured 76.6 mm standard length.

Krupp (1985c) gives details on the syntypes of Alburnus sellal held at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien. Six syntypes of A. sellal, 124-140 mm standard length, are under NMW 55665 (2 fish, 137.2-141.3 mm standard length, my measurements) and NMW 55666 (4, 126.9-142.7 mm standard length), and 3, 110-152 mm standard length, are under NMW 55664 (1, 110.5 mm standard length) and 55667 (2, one of which is designated as the lectotype, 140.7-155.4 mm standard length). Eschmeyer et al. (1996) list NMW 55664-67 as having 1, 2, 4, and 2 fish in each number in the series and also 2 syntypes (RMNH 2666) in the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden from NMW. The catalogue in Vienna lists 8 specimens of A. sellal.

The syntypes of A. mossulensis are under NMW 55656 (2 fish, 111.2-118.4 mm standard length, my measurements), NMW 55717 (2, 83.0-89.4 mm standard length), and NMW 55718 (2, 101.9-131.5 mm standard length). Two syntypes of Alburnus mossulensis are in the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt (SMF 402, formerly NMW) (F. Krupp, pers. comm., 1985; 80.1-102.7 mm standard length). Eschmeyer et al. (1996) also list NMW 77723 (2, 90.4-135.4 mm standard length) and 1 possible syntype in the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden (RMNH 2644). The catalogue in Vienna lists 6 specimens of A. mossulensis, with one specimen from NMW 77723 as the lectotype.

Seven syntypes of Alburnus iblis are in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien under NMW 55524 and measure 91-165 mm standard length (Kähsbauer, 1964; 92.9-172.3 mm standard length by my measurements). One of these fish is designated as the lectotype. The catalogue in Vienna lists 8 specimens in one column and 38 in the adjacent column.

Two syntypes of Alburnus megacephalus are under NMW 55627 and measure 160-162 mm standard length (Kähsbauer, 1964; 162.9-166.1 mm standard length by my measurements); 2 specimens are listed in the Vienna catalogue. One of these fish is the lectotype.

Fifteen syntypes of Alburnus caudimacula are under NMW 55506 and measure 38.5-118.4 mm standard length; the catalogue in Vienna lists 8 specimens in one column and what appears to be 26 specimens in the adjacent column although this may be 20 fish with 6 set aside for A. schejtan. The Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden has 4 syntypes under RMNH 2654, formerly in NMW (Eschmeyer et al., 1996).

Five syntypes of Alburnus capito measure 48.7-101.9 mm standard length (NMW 55505) although the catalogue in Vienna only lists 4 fish.

Four syntypes of Alburnus schejtan measure 71.7-112.6 mm standard length (NMW 22281) and one of these is designated as the lectotype, 2 syntypes measure 104.5-112.3 mm standard length (NMW 55663), 2 syntypes measure 91.8-100.0 mm standard length (NMW 55719), and 2 syntypes measure 81.6-94.4 mm standard length (NMW 55721).

Two syntypes of Leuciscus maxillaris, 165-166 mm total length, are stored in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris (as 13954 according to Fang (1942) or as A.3954 according to Bertin and Estève (1948), M. L. Bauchot, in litt., 1982, and my observations). Fang (1942) regards maxillaris as a distinct species in Alburnus. My measurements were 136.7-136.9 mm standard length.

Krupp (1985c) refers 5 specimens from the type series of Alburnus doriae to his Alburnus sellal and 2 specimens to Leuciscus (= Squalius) lepidus.

Bianco and Banarescu (1982) felt that their samples showed clinal variation from northwest to southeast, with numbers of anal fin branched rays, lateral line scales and gill rakers gradually decreasing. Their fish from the upper Tigris River basin in Turkey not far from Mosul (the type locality) and from the Pulvar River (Kor River basin of Fars) form one subspecies while those from the Mand and Kul River basin draining to the Persian Gulf in Fars are a distinct subspecies. Available names for the former subspecies include capito, iblis, schejtan and megacephalus, the latter requires a new name according to Bianco and Banarescu (1982). The Tigris-Kor sample could be A. mossulensis mossulensis and the Mand-Kul sample A. mossulensis caudimacula (see above). However, Bianco and Banarescu (1982) are correct to point out that variation in this species has not been fully examined, local environmental conditions such as temperature can affect scale counts and the problem of the relationship of A. sellal remains to be resolved. They found in 7 specimens of sellal that scale counts at 71-77 (in contrast to 66-70 in Berg (1949)) overlapped with mossulensis counts. Berg's (1949) and my counts are very wide for A. mossulensis, suggesting that local environment may govern meristic characters as widely demonstrated for fishes. Subspecies recognition requires much further work as Bianco and Banarescu (1982) acknowledge by not proposing a new name for the Mand-Kul fish. Furthermore, samples from near Boldaji in the Shahrestan-e Bakhtiari va Chahar Mahall at 31°57'30"N, 50°59'E and 31° 55'N, 51°05'E are distinctive in their meristic characters as outlined below but other samples from the Khersan River in Boyer Ahmadi-ye Sardsir va Kohkiluyeh at 30°24'N, 51°47'E and 30°31'N, 51°31'E are intermediate (both Boldaji and Khersan are in the upper Karun River basin). Clinal variation may be operative but would require more samples to document fully.

Key characters

The short, naked ventral keel, usually 8 branched dorsal fin rays, distribution, and the characters in the table under A. atropatenae can be used to identify this species.

Morphology

Dorsal fin with 3 unbranched and 7-9 branched rays, anal fin with 3 unbranched and 9-14 branched rays. Pectoral fin branched rays 13-18, pelvic fin branched rays 7-9. Lateral line scales 58-89. Gill rakers 11-18. Pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2, with hooked tips and serrated edges to the crowns. Variants include 2,5-5,2, 3,5-5,3 and 2,5-5,3. Populations vary sympatrically in total vertebral counts: 40-43 and 42-45; and in abdominal counts 20-22 and 22-24 (Bogutskaya et al., 2000). The karyotype of fish from the Kızılırmak River in Turkey was 2n=48 (Gül et al., 2000) but this species does not occur in this area.

Meristics for Iranian specimens by basin are as follows:-

Locality/Dorsal Fin Branched Rays	7	8	9	x	S.D.
Boldaji	18	33		7.6	0.48
Khersan River	3	28		7.9	0.30
Kor River Basin	5	124	2	8.0	0.23
Gulf Basin	11	113	5	8.0	0.35
Tigris River Basin		66	6	8.1	0.28

Locality/Anal Fin Branched Rays	9	10	11	12	13	x	S.D.
Boldaji	29	22				9.4	0.50
Khersan River	2	40	23	2		10.4	0.60
Kor River Basin		2	83	46		11.3	0.51
Gulf Basin		16	84	28	1	11.1	0.60
Tigris River Basin		2	33	30	7	11.6	0.71

Locality/Pectoral Fin Branched Rays	13	14	15	16	17	18	x	S.D.
Boldaji		5	25	15	6		15.4	0.83
Khersan River			4	15	12		16.3	0.68
Kor River Basin		3	26	60	36	6	16.1	0.86
Gulf Basin	2	21	64	38	4		15.2	0.79
Tigris River Basin		6	20	36	10		15.7	0.82

Locality/Pelvic Fin Branched Rays	7	8	9	x	S.D.
Boldaji	32	19		7.4	0.49
Khersan River	1	29	1	8.0	0.26
Kor River Basin	2	119	10	8.1	0.30
Gulf Basin	22	103	4	7.9	0.43
Tigris River Basin	4	62	6	8.0	0.37

Locality/Lateral Line Scales	n	Range	x	S.D.
Boldaji	51	67-83	75.0	3.62
Khersan River	31	72-84	79.5	2.99
Kor River Basin	131	66-86	75.7	3.24
Gulf Basin	129	58-82	68.8	4.17
Tigris River Basin	73	72-89	78.6	3.46

Locality/Total Gill Rakers	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	x	S.D.
Boldaji		19	19	12					12.9	0.78
Khersan River	13	10	6	2					11.9	0.94
Kor River Basin		1	26	54	39	11			14.3	0.90
Gulf Basin	7	29	61	29	3				12.9	0.87
Tigris River Basin		24	24	18	4		1	1	13.2	1.17

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown but males do develop tubercles in the breeding season.

Colour

Overall colour is silvery. The back is a bluish- or reddish-brown, bluish-black or blackish. A dark, lead-coloured stripe runs along and above the mid-flank and has a width about the same as the eye diameter. The stripe may only be evident posteriorly. Scales above the lateral line have fine melanophores at their base. Lateral line scales can have pigment spots above and below the tube near the base of each scale, but this is not as marked as in Alburnoides bipunctatus. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are margined with black, the latter the darkest. There may be a black spot at the caudal fin base and the first pectoral fin ray may be black dorsally. The pectoral, pelvic and anal fins are yellowish at their base. Pelvic and anal fins may be reddish. The peritoneum is brown but may be thickly speckled with black-brown spots and thus appear almost black.

Size

Reaches about 22 cm (Ergene, 1993).

Distribution

Found in the Tigris-Euphrates basin and adjacent basins. In Iran it is recorded from the Tigris River, Gulf, Lake Maharlu, Kor River and upper reaches of the Hormozgan basins (M. Hafezieh, pers. comm.; Berg, 1949; Bianco and Banarescu, 1982; Abdoli, 2000) and questionably from the Esfahan basin (Abdoli, 2000). Records also include the Shapur and Dalaki rivers in the Gulf basin (Gh. Izadpanahi, pers. comm., 1995) and the upper Mand including Qara Agaj reach and Shur tributary, Shur tributary to Dasht-e Palang; upper Zohreh, Marun and Jarrahi, upper Karun and Khersan, Dez, whole middle to upper Karkheh basin (Simarreh, Qarasu, Gav Masiab)(Abdoli, 2000).

Zoogeography

Its former position in the genus Chalcalburnus indicates a relationship with fishes occurring in the Black-Caspian seas basin.

Habitat

This species is found in streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and marshes. Al-Habbib (1981) has demonstrated experimentally for specimens taken from the Aloka River, north of Mosul, Iraq that this species can survive temperatures in the range of about 1.25-36.2°C when acclimated (fish were identified incorrectly as Chalcalburnus chalcoides). Epler et al. (2001) found it to be the second most dominant species of fish (identified as A. sheitan) in lakes Habbaniyah, Tharthar and Razzazah in Iraq, comprising 10% of all fish collected. This was one of the most abundant species in the recovering marshes of southern Iraq in 2005-2006 (Hussain et al., 2006).

Age and growth

Jawad (2004) used eye lens diameter for ageing the young (up to age 3) of this species from the marshes north of Basrah. Ergene (1993) studied the growth of this species in the Karasu of Turkey and found 4 age groups, and mentions 5 age groups for another Turkish study. Mean fork length is 118.2 mm, 131.0 mm, 145.2 mm and 163.3 mm respectively. Condition factors for these age groups were 0.87, 0.85, 0.84 and 0.86. Türkmen and Akyurt (2000) also working on this species in the Karasu River found age groups 1 to 6 with age group 3 the most abundant. The mean condition factor for males and females was 1.023 and 1.047 respectively. Age-length, age-weight (von Bertalanffy equations) and length-weight relationships were also calculated as l_t = 20.41[1-e^-0.2485 (t+1.47)], l_t = 21.59[1-e^-0.1978 (t+2.13)], W = 80.77 (1-e^-0.2485 (t+1.47)^2.828, W = 103.63 (1-e^-0.1978 (t+2.13)^3.082, LogW = -1.796 + 2.828 LogFL (r = 0.943) and LogW = -2.097 + 3.082 LogFL (r = 0.946) respectively. Length and age at first maturity were 1.26 years and 9.24 cm for males and 1.81 years and 9.65 cm for females in the Karasu River, Turkey; age group 7 was the oldest recorded (Yıldırım et al., 2007).

Esmaeili and Ebrahimi (2006) give a significant length-weight relationship based on 76 Iranian fish measuring 3.15-8.14 cm standard length. The a-value was 0.0197 and the b-value 2.903 (a b-value < 3 indicating a fish that becomes less rotund as length increases and a b-value >3 indicating a fish that becomes more rotund as length increases).

Food

Younis et al. (2001b) found Shatt al Arab, Iraq fish feeding on phytoplankton (algae and diatoms) at 44%, followed by organic detritus at 36.7% (33% in a table), and arthropods at 3.1%, It had a dietary overlap of 89% with Barbus luteus in May, the highest in the study. In a study of the recovering Hammar Marsh, Iraq diet was 67.95% insects and 14.34% algae with diatoms, plants, crustaceans and fish at less than 10% each, in the Hawr al Hawizah 66.2% insects and 19.2% algae, with amounts of diatoms and crustaceans being less than 10% each, and in the Al Kaba'ish (= Chabaish) Marsh 73.7% insects and 13.1% algae with diatoms, plants and crustaceans at less than 10% each (Hussain et al., 2006).

Reproduction

Berg (1949) reports a female 15.5 cm long with mature eggs. Qarmat Ali River, Iraq fish had a fecundity of 1926-11,779 eggs (Saud, 1997). Yıldırım et al. (2007) examined this species in the Karasu River of Turkey and found a male:female sex ratio of 1:1.08, not significantly different from 1:1, a fecundity range of 3012 to 11,427 eggs, significant correlations between fecundity and fork length, total weight, age and gonad weight, and a spawning season from June to August when water temperature attained 15ºC.

Parasites and predators

Molnár and Jalali (1992) describe a new species of monogenean, Dactylogyrus holciki, from this species in the Beshar River of the Persian Gulf drainage. Gussev et al. (1993b) report the monogenean, Dactylogyrus chalcalburni, from Alburnus alburnus in the Zayandeh Rud but this fish does not occur there. The parasite may have been found in Alburnus mossulensis. González-Solís et al. (1997) report Rhabdochona denudata, Contracaecum sp. larvae and Proleptinae larvae (Nematoda) from this species in the drainage of Lake Maharlu and Contracaecum sp. larvae in the drainage of the Kor River, both in Fars. Jalali et al. (2005) summarise the occurrence of Gyrodactylus species in Iran and record G. sp. from the Beshar River of the Tigris basin in a Chalcalburnus sp., presumably this species. Barzegar and Jalali (2006) report parasites in this species from Kaftar Lake as Lernaea cyprinacea and Diplostomum spathaceum.

Economic importance

This species has been used in the preparation of fish meal in Iraq.

Conservation

An abundant species where studied, it appears to be under no threat in Iran. Endangered in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007).

Further work

Its taxonomic status in relation to its Levant relative remains unresolved and the relation between lowland and mountain populations in Iran needs careful analysis. Its biology in Iran has yet to be studied in detail.

Sources

Type material: See above, Alburnus capito (NMW 55505), Alburnus caudimacula (NMW 55506), Alburnus hebes ((NMW 17558-17560 or NMW 55523), Alburnus iblis (NMW 55524), Alburnus megacephalus (NMW 55627), Alburnus microlepis (NMW 55655), Alburnus mossulensis (NMW 55656, 55717, 55718, 77723, SMF 402), Alburnus schejtan (NMW 22281, NMW 55663, 55719, 55721), Alburnus sellal (NMW 55664, 55665, 55666, 55667), Leuciscus maxillaris (MNHN A.3954).

Iranian material: CMNFI 1977-0510A, 44, 35.7-154.6 mm standard length, Fars, Pulvar River tributary (29º59'30"N, 52º54'E); CMNFI 1979-0025, 87, 19.1-138.2 mm standard length, Fars, Kor River at Marv Dasht (29º51'N, 52º46'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0027, 24, 59.8-105.0 mm standard length, Fars, Chehel Cheshmeh (ca. 29º43'N, ca. 52º04'E); CMNFI 1979-0028, 55, 19.1-122.6 mm standard length, Fars, Kor River drainage (no other locality data); CMNFI 1979-0036, 22, 82.3-115.1 mm standard length, Fars, Shapur River at Shapur (29º47'N, 51º35'E); CMNFI 1979-0047, 7, 41.4-78.2 mm standard length, Fars, Ab-e Paravan spring (ca. 29º34'N, ca. 52º42'E); CMNFI 1979-0054, 17, 39.8-95.6 mm standard length, Fars, Shur River tributary (28-29º58-03'N, 52º34-35'E); CMNFI 1979-0061, 51, 32.9-131.1 mm standard length, Fars, Pulvar River tributary (30º04'N, 53º01'E); CMNFI 1979-0067, 55, 11.1-107.9 mm standard length, Fars, qanat at Zarqan (ca. 29º46'N, ca. 52º43'E); CMNFI 1979-0070, 44, 35.0-98.5 mm standard length, Fars, Pulvar River at Naqsh-e Rostam (29º59'N, 52º54'E); CMNFI 1979-0071, 12, 65.3-104.3 mm standard length, Fars, qanat 23 km from Pol-e Khan (ca. 30º00'N, ca. 52º38'E); CMNFI 1979-0073, 26, 50.0-93.3 mm standard length, Fars, Mand River (ca. 29º42'30"N, ca. 52º01'30'E); CMNFI 1979-0074, 39, 23.8-94.0 mm standard length, Fars. Mand River (29º41'N, 52º06'E); CMNFI 1979-0117, 16, 33.4-130.0 mm standard length, Fars, Pulvar River at Naqsh-e Rostam (29º59'N, 52º54'E); CMNFI 1979-0128, 9, 43.2-102.5 mm standard length, Fars, Shur River (28º51'N, 52º31'E); CMNFI 1979-0154B, 1, 46.9 mm standard length, Fars, stream at Koorsiah village (28º45'30"N, 54º24'E); CMNFI 1979-0155, 2, 56.2-64.7 mm standard length, Fars, spring at Gavanoo village (28º47'N, 54º22'E); CMNFI 1979-0156, 11, 49.0-74.4 mm standard length, Fars, qanat at Rashidabad (28º47'N, 54º18'E); CMNFI 1979-0157, 53, 31.8-86.6 mm standard length, Fars, qanat at Hadiabad (28º52'N, 54º13'E); CMNFI 1979-0158, 13, 73.5-108.9 mm standard length, Fars, qanat between Now Bandegan and Qaziabad (28º54'N, 53º53'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0160, 22, 32.4-106.0 mm standard length, Fars, spring at Arteshkhadeh Pomp (29º09'N, 53º37'E); CMNFI 1979-0246, 49, 52.8-92.6 mm standard length, Shahrestan-e Bakhtiari va Chahar Mahall, upper Karun River drainage (31º57'30"N, 50º59'E); CMNFI 1979-0248, 13, 48.4-89.5 mm standard length, Shahrestan-e Bakhtiari va Chahar Mahall, stream 3 km west of Boldaji (31º55'N, 51º05'E); CMNFI 1979-0272, 11, 40.5-130.0 mm standard length, Lorestan, river at Nokhor (ca. 33º40-47'N, ca. 48º28-45'E); CMNFI 1979-0278, 4, 75.5-88.2 mm standard length, Lorestan, Kashkan River drainage (33º34'N, 48º01'E); CMNFI 1979-0279, 3, 68.7-91.4 mm standard length, Lorestan, Khorramabad River (33º37'N, 48º18'E); CMNFI 1979-0282, 19, 40.2-131.3 mm standard length, Lorestan, river at Nurabad (34º05'N, 47º58'E); CMNFI 1979-0284, 30, 73.1-98.3 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Qareh Su drainage (34º16'N, 46º48'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0285, 4, 124.7-136.8 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Qareh Su drainage (34º26'N, 46º37'E); CMNFI 1979-0289, 2, 125.3-142.1 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Diyala River drainage (34º28'N, 45º52'E); CMNFI 1979-0290, 4, 146.9-171.4 mm standard length, Kermnanshahan, Diyala River drainage (34º31'N, 45º35'E); CMNFI 1979-0348, 4, 68.0-78.8 mm standard length, Fars, 2 km from Pol-e Berengie (ca. 29º28'N, ca. 52º32'E); CMNFI 1979-0352, 2, 88.5-93.9 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Jarrahi River drainage (30º33'30"N, 48º48'E); CMNFI 1979-0421, 1, 103.8 mm standard length, Boyer Ahmadi-ye Sardsir va Kohkiluyeh, Khersan River drainage (30º24'N, 51º47'E); CMNFI 1979-0423, 67, 31.8-78.4 mm standard length, Boyer Ahmadi-ye Sardsir va Kohkiluyeh, Khersan River drainage (30º31'N, 51º31'E); CMNFI 1979-0499, 3, 104.8-133.6 mm standard length, Fars, irrigation ditch on road to Dariush Dam (30º04'30"N, 52º36'E); CMNFI 1979-0500, 2, 112.2-116.5 mm standard length, Fars, Pulvar River at Naqsh-e Rostam (29º59'N, 52º54'E).

Comparative material: BM(NH) 1981.4.13:9-11, 3, 64.3-72.8 mm standard length, Aloka River near Mosul (no other locality data); CMNFI 1980-815, 2, 88.9-107.2 mm; CMNFI 1980-1036, 2, 11.6-145.8 mm standard length, Turkey, ?check this sample for gill raker count ;

Genus Aspidoparia
Heckel, 1847

This Oriental genus has only 2 species, one of which enters southeastern Iran. Mirza (2000) proposes that the members of the genus Aspidoparia be placed in a new subfamily, Aspidoparinae.

It is characterised by an elongate and almost cylindrical body with a rounded abdomen, the head has a broad ring of suborbital bones, the mouth is small and inferior, the roof of the mouth has a papillose nodule, the lower jaw has a sharp, crescentic bony edge, no barbels, pharyngeal teeth in 2-3 rows, dorsal fin short, anal fins short to moderate, scales moderate in size, lateral line decurved and running on the lower half of the caudal peduncle, and the gut is long and coiled.

Aspidoparia morar
(Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822)

Common names

None.

[waspi or common chilwa in Pakistan].

Systematics

No relevant synonyms. This species was originally described from the Yamuna and Tista rivers, India. No types are known (Eschmeyer et al., 1996).

Key characters

The suborbital ring of bones is large and distinctive, being almost as deep as the eye, and this feature is unique in southeastern Iranian cyprinids.

Morphology

The snout is short and rounded and overlaps the upper lip. The mouth is small, ventral and transverse. The lower jaw is straight with a slightly horny cutting edge and no lip. The dorsal fin origin is over or slightly behind the pelvic fin origin. The dorsal fin margin is straight to very slightly emarginate and the anal fin is emarginate.

Dorsal fin unbranched rays 2-3 (the first unbranched ray is very small, usually 3 rays are present but not discernible) and branched rays 6-8, anal fin unbranched rays 2 and branched rays 8-10, pectoral branched rays 9-16, usually 12 or more, and pelvic fin branched rays 7-8. Lateral line scales 36-45. Scales have few anterior and more numerous but not many posterior radii. There is a pelvic axillary scale and several elongate and overlapping scales in the pectoral axil. Gill rakers are very short, not touching the adjacent one when appressed, difficult to count at the fleshy ends of each arch, and numbering about 17-25. Pharyngeal teeth 2,4,5-5,4,2 in the literature but the main row count of 4 teeth observed here differs. The main row teeth have large, oval to oblong flattened crowns. The gut is a very elongate s-shape with a small anterior loop. Total vertebrae 36-37. The chromosome number is 2n=48 (Klinkhardt et al., 1995).

Meristic values for Iranian specimens are:- dorsal fin branched rays 6(1) or 7(18); anal fin branched rays 8(4) or 9(15); pectoral fin branched rays 9(1), 12(5), 13(11) or 14(2); pelvic fin branched rays 7(19); lateral line scales 36(1), 37(4), 38(1), 39(5), 40(4), 41(2), 42(1) or 45(1); scales above the lateral line 7(10) or 8(9); scales below the lateral line to the anal fin 3(1), 4(12) or 5(6); scales between the lateral line and the pelvic fin 4(13), 5(5) or 6(1); predorsal scales 17(1), 18(3), 19(2), 20(2), 21(3), 22(3), 23(2) or 24(2); caudal peduncle scales 15(1), 16(5), 17(6), 18(5), 19(1); total gill rakers 17(1), 18(2), 19(2), 21(2), 22(4), 23(2) or 25(1); pharyngeal tooth count 2,4,4-4,4,2(5), 2,4,4-4,4,1(1), or 2,3,4-4,4,2(1), and total vertebrae 36(3) or 37(9).

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown.

Colour

Back light brown to brown-green with the flanks very silvery to silvery-yellow and the belly lighter. There is a golden stripe along the flank. Fins are a distinct dark yellow. The caudal fin may be yellow to orange and paired fins a very light orange-yellow. Preserved fish have immaculate fins except for the caudal fin which has some melanophores lining the rays, a broad stripe along the midline of the back, and fine melanophores on the back and upper flank. Some fish have small, dark dots on the back and upper flank. The peritoneum is black.

Size

Attains 20 cm (Malhotra and Munshi, 1985).

Distribution

This species is reported from the Makran and Mashkid River basins in Pakistan (Mirza, 1992) and eastwards to Thailand. The Iranian distribution encompasses the Mashkel (= Mashkid) and Makran basins, the latter westwards to the Straits of Hormuz (Kiabi and Abdoli, 2000).

Zoogeography

The species and genus reaches its westernmost limit of distribution in southeastern Iran. Barriers to further dispersal are unknown but it may be limited by temperature, habitat availability and poor recent connections between streams in the Makran and the southern deserts of Iran.

Habitat

This species favours streams with slow current.

Age and growth

A female, 9.8 cm total length, from Iran had mature eggs (Berg, 1949).

Food

This minnow is a carni-omnivore and a voracious feeder (Bhattacharjee and Dasgupta, 1988). Iranian specimens contained no discernible food items in their guts.

Reproduction

Spawning occurs from February to April in India (Malhotra and Munshi, 1985), Iranian specimens caught in December were not mature suggesting a later spawning season.

Parasites and predators

Jalali et al. (2000) describe two new species of monogeneans, Dactylogyrus yousefpouri and D. mobedii, from this species in the Bahu Kalat River of Baluchestan.

Economic importance

Not of any economic importance in Iran but it is eaten in India.

Conservation

Although known from only a few localities in southeastern Iran, this species may not be threatened other than by water abstraction and pollution.

Further work

The biology of this species, which is at its westernmost range limit in Iran, is unknown. There are some minor differences in characters with literature reports, particularly in pharyngeal tooth count, but sample sizes do not permit an adequate comparison for this wide-ranging species.

Sources

Iranian material: CMNFI 1979-0316, 1, 22.1 mm standard length, Baluchestan, stream in Sarbaz River drainage (26º48'N, 61º02'E);CMNFI 1979-0322, 7, 42.3-86.3 mm standard length, Baluchestan, Dashtiari River (ca. 25º45'N, ca. 61º26'E); CMNFI 1979-0333, 7, 17.7-69.5 mm standard length, Baluchestan, Mashkid River (ca. 27º05'N, ca. 63º12'E); CMNFI 1979-0334, 10, 22.8-62.0 mm standard length, Baluchestan, Mashkid River (27º04'N, 62º54'E): OSU 8123, 5, 45.7-50.6 mm standard length, Baluchestan, Srabaz River (no other locality data).

Comparative material: BC55-61, 2, 67.0-68.2 mm standard length, India, Barakar River near Tillya Dam (no other locality data).

Genus Aspiolucius
Berg, 1907

Aspiolocius esocinus
(Kessler, 1874)

Recorded from the Karakum Canal in Turkmenistan (Sal'nikov, 1995) and may eventually be found in the Tedzhen (= Hari) River basin of Iran. No Iranian record.

Genus Aspius
Agassiz, 1832

The asps comprise 2 species found in Europe and Southwest Asia. Both species are found in Iran.

This genus is characterised by an elongate, rounded and large body, small scales, a large mouth with the lower jaw projecting, lower jaw with a tubercle fitting into a notch in the upper jaw, no barbels, pharyngeal teeth in 2 rows, pointed and hooked, gill rakers short and wide apart, short dorsal fin without a thickened ray, a long anal fin, a scaled keel behind the pelvic fins, and gill slits very wide such that the branchiostegal membranes attach under the posterior end of the eye.

Aspius aspius
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common names

ماش ماهي (= mash mahi, not apparently meaning pea fish as the Farsi could indicate), khasham.

[hasam or khasham in Azerbaijan; krasnogubyi zherekh or redlip asp in Russian; Caspian asp, South Caspian asp].

Systematics

Cyprinus Aspius was described originally from lakes of Sweden.

Cyprinus Rapax Leske, 1774 described from Leipzig, Germany, Cyprinus taeniatus Eichwald, 1831 described from the Kura River at Mingechaur, Aspius erytrostomus Kessler, 1877 (sic, sometimes spelt erythrostomus or erithrostomus) described in part from the Caspian Sea and Kura River, Azerbaijan and from the Aral Sea and lower part of the Amu Darya, Uzbekistan, and Aspius transcaucasicus Warpakhovskii, 1895 from the Lenkoran River and Lake Bussadagny, Azerbaijan, are synonyms. Aspius aspius taeniatus (Eichwald, 1831) is the subspecies found in the Caspian Sea.

The types of Cyprinus aspius described from Swedish lakes are unknown (Eschmeyer et al., 1996).

Eschmeyer et al. (1996) give Aspius transcaucasicus Varpakhovskii, 1896, although Berg (1948-1949) gives 1895; possibly the volume year is 1895 but the work did not appear until 1896. Varpakhovskii is a variant spelling in transliteration from the Russian. Syntypes of this synonym are in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg under ZISP 10488 (2) and ZISP 10497-48 (sic, in Eschmeyer et al. (1996) but should read 10497-98 with 5 and 2 specimens respectively (Kottelat, 1997)).

Key characters

The subspecies of the southern Caspian Sea is distinguished from the type subspecies of Europe and the northern Caspian Sea since the latter has lower lateral line scale counts of 64-76 as opposed to 62-105, lips never bright red, anal fin branched rays usually 13 instead of 12 (but see Iranian fish below), and height of dorsal fin usually longer than distance from snout tip to posterior edge of preopercle. Characters of the genus and distribution serve to separate it from other cyprinids in Iran.

Morphology

Dorsal fin branched rays 7-10, usually 8, after 2-3, usually 3, unbranched rays, and anal fin branched rays 11-16, usually 12 (but see below), after 3-4, usually 3, unbranched rays, pectoral fin branched rays 14-17 and pelvic fin rays 7-9. Lateral line scales 62-105. The scales have a central focus, fine circuli and few posterior and anterior radii. There is a pelvic axillary scale. There is a scaled keel behind the pelvic fins. The lower jaw tip projects and fits into a notch in the upper jaw. Gill membranes are narrowly attached to the isthmus, almost under the posterior eye margin. Gill rakers 8-11, very short and club-shaped, almost reaching or not reaching half way to the raker below when appressed. Pharyngeal teeth usually 3,5-5,3, sometimes 2,5-5,3 or with 6 teeth in the main row, teeth elongate, compressed and obviously hooked. Gut an elongate s-shape. Vertebrae 49-51. The chromosome number is 2n=50-52 (Klinkhardt et al., 1995).

Meristic values for Iranian specimens are:- dorsal fin branched rays 8(6); anal fin branched rays 13(6); pectoral fin branched rays 18(3); pelvic fin branched rays 8(3); lateral line scales 68(1), 72(2), 73(1), 74(1) or 75(2); total gill rakers 8(1) or 9(2); pharyngeal teeth 3,5-5,3(3); and total vertebrae 50(2) or 51(1).

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown.

Colour

The overall colour is silvery with the back a blackish-olive or greenish-grey. The iris is silvery with a narrow golden circle around the pupil and a little grey pigment on the upper half. Lips are silvery with a little grey over the upper one. Both lips and iris are often bright red. The dorsal and caudal fins are grey and the other fins are transparent without pigment. Fins may be tinged reddish. Peritoneum silvery to brown.

Size

Reportedly attains 1.2 m and 14.2 kg. The largest of 12,000 fish from the lower Kura River was 77 cm total length, males averaged 61 cm and females 64 cm. The average weight of 105,500 fish caught in 1927-1929 was 2.72 kg, females 2.93 kg (based on 1500 fish), males 2.34 kg and the heaviest fish was 5.5 kg (Berg, 1948-1949).

Distribution

Found from the Rhine and north of the Alps in Europe to the drainages of the Black, Caspian and Aral seas including their southern shores.

This species has been reported from Astara to Gorgan Bay in rivers and marshes and in the Caspian Sea of Iran (Nedoshivin and Il'in, 1929; Derzhavin, 1934; Berg, 1948-1949; Abbasi et al., 1999; Kiabi et al., 1999; Abdoli, 2000). Formerly reported from the Anzali Mordab but no longer present (Holčík and Oláh, 1992) although reported from the Siah-Keshim Protected Region of the Anzali Mordab by (1996). Found also in the Aras River Dam (Jolodar and Abdoli, 2004).

Also recorded from the Uzboi lakes, Karakum Canal and Kopetdag Reservoir in Turkmenistan (Shakirova and Sukhanova, 1994; Sal'nikov, 1995) and may eventually appear in the Tedzhen (= Hari) River basin in Iran.

Zoogeography

The closest relative of this species lies to the south and indicates a connection between Euro-Mediterranean and/or Black-Caspian-Aral seas basins.

Habitat

In the waters of Dagestan, asp begin to migrate upriver in October, peaking at the end of November and the beginning of December. They overwinter in deep holes, emerging in early spring as rivers flood and move to the spawning grounds. These grounds include river channels, open lake areas with substantial flow and only rarely places weakly overgrown with very coarse submerged vegetation such as reeds and rushes. After spawning the asps return to the Caspian Sea (Shikhshabekov, 1979). Knipovich (1921) reports this species from depths of 14.6-16.5 m, and possibly deeper, in the Iranian Caspian Sea. Riazi (1996) reports that this species is native (resident) to the Siah-Keshim Protected Region of the Anzali Mordab.

Age and growth

Life span in the Volga delta is 7-8 years with the bulk of the population mature at 6 years (Ali, 1974). In the waters of Dagestan life span is 8 years with maturity at 4 years. Mature males and females are 41-58 cm long and weigh 840-2800 g (Shikhshabekov, 1979). Growth is more rapid in the Kura River of Azerbaijan than in other rivers in the former Soviet Union. Fish taken from commercial catches in Iran are mostly 3-6 years old, 38.1-56.7 cm long and weigh 631-2241 g (Razivi et al., 1972) or 3-6 years and 33-63 cm total length (Holčík and Oláh, 1992). Growth is rapid in the latter report, fish reaching 1 kg during the fourth year of life. Maximum life span may be 15 years.

Food

This species is a solitary predator on other fishes such as gobies (Gobiidae) and silversides (Atherinidae), frogs and even ducklings. An Iranian specimen had the remains of a large crustacean in its gut. Young feed on plankton initially but start to take the fry of fishes at 2-3 months. There is little feeding on the spawning migration.

It may catch other fishes by plunging into shoals at the surface and may leap out of the water as a result. Abdoli (2000) reports Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Atherina boyeri and Blicca bjoerkna as food items in Iran. Surface insects are also eaten.

Reproduction

The spawning season in Gilan is mid-February to late March at 10-13°C with an incubation period of 9-10 days (Hoseinie, 1995).

Spawning is non-intermittent and the period is short (10-15 days) in Dagestan (Shikhshabekov, 1979). Fecundity reaches 483,500 eggs in the south Caspian Sea and maximum egg diameter in the Volga delta is 1.7 mm (Ali, 1974). In Hoseinie's (1995) study of artificial propagation of this species in Iran, large or swollen eggs number 117-277 per gram, and egg diameters 2.0-2.2 mm. Absolute fecundity reaches 264,248 eggs. Abdurakhmanov (1962) gives a maximum fecundity of 342,000 eggs and a maximum egg diameter of 2.4 mm for Azerbaijan populations. Females with ripe eggs are found between mid-April and mid-May at water temperatures of 4-12.2°C, optimally 9-11°C. Up to 20% of Volga asp females do not spawn annually. Eggs develop while between or adhering to stones on the river bed. Young migrate downriver from June to August at age 3-4 months and 5-10 cm length.

Parasites and predators

Molnár and Jalali (1992) record the monogenean Dactylogyrus tuba from this species in the Safid Rud. Masoumian et al. (2005) report the protozoan parasite Chilodonella, sp. from this species in the Aras Dam in West Azarbayjan. Masoumian et al. (2002) investigated parasites from this fish in the Aras and Mahabad dams in northwest Iran and found the protozoan Myxobolus dispar. Sattari (2004) records the presence of the nematode, Eustrongylides excisus, in the body cavity. This parasite can damage muscles in commercial species and render them unsuitable for sale. Sattari et al. (2005) surveyed this species in the inshore area of the Caspian Sea, recording Eustrongyloides excisus. Pazooki et al. (2007) recorded various parasites from localities in West Azarbayjan Province, including Argulus foliaceus from this species.

The Caspian seal, Pusa caspica, is a predator (Krylov, 1984).

Economic importance

This fish is taken in Iran as food but comprises only a small portion of the catch. Nevraev (1929) reports catches of 267 to 2429 fish for the period 1914-1915 to 1917-1918 in the Anzali region. Holčík and Oláh (1992) record the catch in the Anzali region for 1969-1970 and 1970-1971 as 45.2 t and 36.1 t respectively, these being 84% and 69% of the total Iranian catch. In 1921-1930 the annual catch in the lower Kura River averaged 249,000 fish and in 1936 for Azerbaijan the catch weighed 8100 centners and numbered 300,000 fish.

Robins et al. (1991) list this species as important to North Americans. Importance is based on its use as food and in sport. The flesh is white and tasty but rather tough.

Conservation

Recruitment in this species is low in Iran because water is taken from the summer spawning streams for irrigation purposes. Spawning success is therefore limited. Larvae of spring spawners are lost when they enter irrigation channels and become stranded in fields (Razivi et al., 1972). Holčík and Oláh (1992) consider the decline in this species to be due to indiscriminate catching of sexually immature fish and, in the Anzali Mordab at least, environmental changes. The Pol-e Astaneh Fish Farm has studied propagation of this species (Keivany and Nasrollahzadeh, 1990) and Hoseinie (1995) demonstrates that artificial propagation is possible. It has also been raised to marketable size in ponds through artificial feeding with ground kilka and a rice product (Annual Bulletin 1993-94, Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization, Tehran, p. 81-82, 1995). The Shahid Beheshti hatchery on the Safid River breeds this species (Raymakers, 2002).The asp is bred in the Varvarinsk Hatchery and releases up to 1.5 million yearlings are made into the Kura River, with plans for 8-10 million releases (Kosarev and Yablonskaya, 1994).

Lelek (1987) classifies this species as vulnerable to endangered in Europe. Vulnerable in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007). Kiabi et al. (1999) consider this species to be data deficient in the south Caspian Sea basin according to IUCN criteria. Criteria include commercial fishing, habitat destruction, limited range (less than 25% of water bodies), absent in other water bodies in Iran, and absent outside the Caspian Sea basin.

Further work

The distribution and abundance of this species in Iranian waters needs investigation as it is sensitive to environmental changes.

Sources

Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0526, 2, 236.8-246.1 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River below Astaneh (37º19'N, 49º57'30"E); CMNFI 1980-0494, 1, 319.6 mm standard length, ? Gilan, Caspian Sea basin (no other locality data); ZISP 3917, 1, 402.0 mm standard length, Gilan, Anzali (no other locality data).

Aspius vorax
Heckel, 1843

Common names

shelej, shalaj, sholge, sholgeh.

[shillik, shillig, shiliq, shelej, shalaj; bu aliawi, abu elawi; called "snake" by American soldiers in Iraq because of the name asp being familiar as the snake that killed Cleopatra; kaschschasch (= voracious) from Heckel (1843b); all in Arabic; Tigris asp].

Systematics

The type locality for this species is the "Tigris bei Mossul" according to Heckel (1843b). Krupp (1985c) reports, and I have examined, a syntype held in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien under NMW 76776, 261.4 mm standard length. The catalogue in Vienna in 1997 also lists NMW 76785 as a type and this specimen is also 261.4 mm standard length. Eschmeyer et al. (1996) lists a dried skin as a syntype under NMW 16527. The catalogue in Vienna lists 4 fish in spirits and 2 fish stuffed.

Banister (1980) suggests that this species may be close to Aspius aspius, perhaps a clinal variant, since the Caspian Sea basin subspecies, A. a. taeniatus (67-90) has scale counts intermediate between European populations of A. aspius (65-74) and A. vorax (93-105) (Banister's figures). However this may be more apparent than real as there is considerable overlap and frequency distributions are not given. There was insufficient material on hand from Iran to investigate this character in more detail.

Key characters

Characters of the genus coupled with distribution serve to identify this species.

Morphology

The head is long and tapers anteriorly. The mouth is oblique and elongate reaching to the anterior half of the eye. The lower jaw projects and has a symphysis knob fitting into an upper jaw notch. There is a hump as the back rises abruptly after the head. The gill opening is large and extends forward to the posterior eye margin level. Fins are more falcate than in the line illustration when partially collapsed.

Dorsal fin with 2-3 unbranched and 7-9, usually 8, branched rays. Al-Nasiri et al. (1975) give a range of 8-11 (probably 7-10 using my system of counting) dorsal fin rays with a strong mode at 9 (i.e. 8) for 271 fish taken from the Basrah fish market from January to June. Anal fin with 2-3 unbranched and 9-13 branched rays. Al-Nasiri et al. (1975) give a range of 10-13 (9-12, 10 modally but high frequencies at 11 too. Pectoral fin branched rays 16-18 (14-18, modally 16, in Al-Nasiri et al. (1975)), pelvic fin branched rays 8-9, usually 8. Lateral line scales 82-110, lateral line low on the flank anteriorly, rising to the midline of the caudal peduncle. There is a pelvic axillary scale. Scales have a few radii on the posterior field only, a central focus and numerous, fine, concentric circuli. Pharyngeal teeth 3,5-5,3 with variants 2,5-5,3 and 2,5-5,2, long, compressed and hooked at the tip. Gill rakers 9-14, reaching base of adjacent raker when appressed but widely spaced and not developed anteriorly. Some rakers do reach the adjacent one when appressed in some fish. Al-Nasiri et al. (1975) give a range of 11-13 gill rakers with a strong mode at 12. Total vertebrae 51-53 (Al-Nasiri et al. (1975) give 37 as a count which cannot be reconciled with my counts). The gut is an elongate s-shape.

Meristic values for Iranian specimens are:- dorsal fin branched rays 8(4); anal fin branched rays 10(1) or 11(3); pectoral fin branched rays 16(1) or 17(3); pelvic fin branched rays 8(4); lateral line scales 96(1), 98(1) or 100(1); total gill rakers 11(1), 12(2) or 13(1); pharyngeal teeth 3,5-5,3(3); and total vertebrae 51(3) or 53(1).

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown.

Colour

The back is greenish to blackish but overall colour is silvery-grey or silvery-white. Fins are said to be all pale yellow in live fish but are dark in some preserved specimens. A photograph of one freshly caught specimen showed reddish pectoral, pelvic and anal fins, with the dorsal fin greenish, similar to the back and flanks. Another freshly caught specimen was overall silvery, with a brownish-green back, fins overall grey with some yellowish tinges The peritoneum is black to brown.

Size

Reaches over 55 cm total length and 6 kg in Iraq (van den Eelaart, 1954; Herzog, 1967; Shafi and Jasim, 1982; Bartel et al., 1986) and 1.5 m and 60 kg in the Euphrates (Gruvel, 1931; if identification is correct). The Suq al-Shouykh Marsh in April 2005 contained specimens larger than 65.0 cm (www.iraqmarshes.org, downloaded 29 August 2005) and fish in Baghdad palace ponds were estimated to reach 36-40 inches (91-1.02 m) and 15-20 pounds (6.8-9.1 kg) (http://members.cox.net/flybox/FishingUpdate.htm, downloaded 9 January 2006).

Distribution

This species is found in the Tigris-Euphrates and the Orontes River basins in the Middle East. In Iran it is recorded from the lower reaches of rivers in the Tigris River basin including the Bahmanshir River and also such marshes as the Hawr al Azim (Marammazi, 1995).

Zoogeography

This is one of several species that has a sister taxon in the Euro-Mediterranean and/or Black-Caspian-Aral seas basin, indicating north-south connections in the past.

Habitat

van den Eelaart (1954) studied this species in Iraq and found that it lives in rivers, lakes and marshes in both open and vegetated areas and remains in shallow water even in summer. It also occurs in smaller water bodies such as ponds. From spring to fall it is found mainly in marshes and lakes. The barrages at Hindiyah and Kut blocked the upstream migration of this species (Mahdi, 1962). Lakes at Camp Slayer in Baghdad contain this species and, in the shallows, the larger fish chase smaller fish and smaller species leaving v-shaped wakes with the tail fin exposed. Smaller fish leap out of the water to escape the shillik (http://members.cox.net/flybox/FishingUpdate.htm, downloaded 9 January 2006).

Age and growth

Shafi and Jasim (1982) made observations on the biology of this cyprinid in Habbaniyah Reservoir, Iraq. They report 8 age groups with most rapid growth in summer months when water temperatures are above 25°C. Growth in weight is about 160.1 g per year to the fourth year of life and about 331 g per year afterwards. Condition factor was 0.74-1.18 with a mean of 1.0, stable values probably related to piscivory. The length-weight relationship was W = 0.0123 x ^TL3.0601. The von Bertalanffy equation for growth was l_t = 91.0[1-e^-0.122 (t-0.25)]. Ali et al. (1986) found the condition factor to range from 0.05 to 1.09 (mean 0.73) and also gave the chemical composition and calorific value. This species had a higher fat content than Barbus luteus with which it was studied. Al-Dabical and Al-Daham (1995) studied growth in the first year of life in fish from the Shatt al Basrah Canal, Iraq and gave the length-weight relationship as log_e W = -12.458 + 3.077 log_e L and the growth equation as L_t = 104.118 (1-e ^{-0.0121 (t - 87.871)}). Epler et al. (2001) found the oldest age groups to be 5+, 6+ and 7+ in Iraqi lakes Razzazah, Habbaniyah and Tharthar respectively. The mean condition factor was 0.88, 0.76 and 0.87 in lakes Habbaniyah, Tharthar and Razzazah respectively. The von Bertalanffy parameters were for Lake Tharthar L_∞ (cm) = 145.5, K = 0.0803, t₀ = -0.3269, W_∞ (g) = 32099 and n = 3.2249. These indicate rather uniform growth rates, as L_∞ is relatively high and K very low. Results were considered more reliable than an earlier study by Jasim (1980) which used inappropriate methods. Annual survival in Lake Tharthar for fish 2.6-5.5 years was 62.0% (Szczerbowski et al., 2001). Productivity was low based on chemical and limnological studies, limiting fish production.

Food

This minnow is piscivorous, feeding almost entirely on fish when adult according to Iraqi studies (Shafi and Jasim, 1982), although aufwuchs may also be found in gut contents. It is mainly a mid-water and benthic feeder with limited predation on surface water organisms (Hussein and Al-Kanaani, 1991). Hussein et al. (1991) examined diet in the Garma Marshes, Iraq and found aquatic insects and crustaceans to be important in young shillig in both summer and winter, with molluscs and fish less important. Even in large shillig, fish were outranked by aquatic insects and in winter by crustaceans as well. Molluscs were a minor food. Shillig rejected certain molluscs while taking others, attributed to variations in shell thickness and a attachment strength to substrates. Liza abu is an important food fish (Al-Shamma'a and Jasim, 1993). Hussein and Al-Kanaani (1989; 1991; 1993) examined the diet of this species in the Al-Hammar Marsh and found a gradually reduced feeding intensity towards the winter months, a highest fullness index in May and lowest in January, and a diet governed by food accessibility and availability. Crustaceans, fish and aquatic insects are the main food items in descending order of importance, with fish most important when using a percentage ranking index in large shillig and even in small shillik by volume. Benthic molluscs were the third most important food for young shillik after crustaceans and fish. In a study of the recovering Hammar Marsh, Iraq, diet was 80.0% fish and 20.0% insects, in the Hawr al Hawizah 47.4% fish and 29.4% insects with shrimps, other crustaceans, algae, diatoms, plants and snails at less than 10% each, and in the Al Kaba'ish (= Chabaish) Marsh 73.0% fish and 16.8% insects with shrimps, other crustaceans, algae and plants at less than 10% each (Hussain et al., 2006). Fish are the main diet item of large shillik and there is a gradual shift from small- to large-sized prey as the shillik grows (Salman et al., 1994). Frogs, molluscs and aquatic plants and algae were also found in stomach contents, with frogs being important to large shillik in terms of prey volume. Plants may be accidental inclusions taken when seizing prey in weed beds. The fish eaten in descending order of importance were Liza abu, Gambusia affinis (sic, probably G. holbrooki), Garra rufa and Cyprinus carpio. The main crustacean eaten was Metapenaeus affinis along with decapods and amphipods. The gill rakers are widely spaced, indicative of a piscivorous diet (Salman et al., 1993) and the gut is a short s-shape, about equal to fish standard length, also indicative of a piscivorous diet (Salman et al., 1994). Hussain and Ali (2006) examined feeding relationships among fishes in the Al-Hammar Marsh and found this species to be a carnivore, 41.9% of the diet being crustaceans, 10.0% insects and 34.1% fishes. Epler et al. (2001) studied the diet of this species in Lake Tharthar, Iraq and found year old shillik to be eating oligochaetes, tendipedids and plants material with only fish in 2-7 year old shillik. Dietary coincidence with bizz was high in Lake Tharthar, 96.1%.

Reproduction

Shafi and Jasim (1982) record possible spawning in January at 10°C in Iraq with a fecundity up to 74,509 eggs, a mean of 1157 eggs/g body weight and egg diameter of about 1.1 mm. van den Eelaart (1954) found this species in deep parts of Iraqi rivers in December-January, entering marshes and lakes in February to spawn at the end of February and the beginning of March. Spawning takes place on gravel beds, the same as those used by Barbus xanthopterus, but also on plants. Epler et al. (2001) studied reproduction in Iraqi lakes Tharthar and Habbaniyah and found males to achieve maturity in the third year of life at 44.2 cm and females in the fourth at47.2 cm. Spawning occurred in February at 13-14ºC. Fecundity was 92,000 eggs/kg body mass.

Parasites and predators

Jalali and Molnár (1990a) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus pulcher and D. mokhayeri from this species in the Dez River. Moghainemi and Abbasi (1992) record a wide range of parasites from this species in the Hawr al-Azim in Khuzestan. Mortazaei et al. (2000) record an infection rate of 6.6% with the worm Neoechinorhynchus tylosuri in Khuzestan marshes. Farahnak (2000) and Farahnak et al. (2002) record Contracaecum sp. and Anisakis sp. from this fish in Khuzestan Province. It is eaten by Silurus triostegus.

Economic importance

Sharma (1980) reports that shillik were an important fish species at the Basrah, Iraq fish market, accounting for 68,948 kg from October 1975 to June 1977, although this is an order of magnitude less than for the three most important species. Its potential for fish farming may be limited by its small gill area which makes it unfit to maintain gas exchange in oxygen-poor water (Salman et al., 1991). Kassim et al. (1998) found locally-raised Scenedesmus acutus algal cultures at 0.5*10⁶ cell/ml with baker's yeast at 0.05 g/L to be the best formula for raising the rotifer Brachionus calcyflorus as live food for shillik larvae. Growth rate was, however, higher on an artificial diet of boiled eggs and soybean meal (52%) compared to 48%, in contrast to common carp (q.v.).

van den Eelaart (1954) gave the fishing season  in Iraq for this species as December-February (peaking in January) and February and June-November (peaking in February and July-August).

Foreign soldiers in Iraq during 2005 regularly caught this species on angling gear using spoons and streamer flies, e.g. www.carpecapio.com, downloaded 26 August 2005.

Conservation

Few specimens have been caught in Iran and deposited in museums. This may reflect rarity or inadequate collection methods. It was commonly caught by American soldiers in Iraq in 2004 as evidenced by emailed photographs sent to me for identification and is an important food fish in Iraq. Detailed surveys using appropriate equipment are needed to assess its distribution and status in Iran. Vulnerable in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007).

Further work

Its distribution and status in Iran need so be studied as does its distinction from Aspius aspius.

Sources

Scale counts were taken also from Banister (1980).

Type material: See above (NMW 76776 and NMW 76785).

Iranian material: ZMH 2516, 259.9 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Karasu-Gamasiab-Seymarreh (no further locality data); uncatalogued, 3, 105.6-282.5 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Hawr al Azim and Dez River, (no further locality data). 

Comparative material: NMW 91020, 1, 170.6 mm standard length, Iraq, Shatt-al-Arab, Basrah (30°30'N, 47°47'E); BM(NH) 1920.3.3:127-146, 28, 69.8-284.7 mm standard length, Iraq, Basrah (30°30'N, 47°47'E); BM(NH) 1920.10.8:1, 1, 182.3 mm standard length, Iraq, Tigris River (no other locality data); BM(NH) 1931.12.21:11, 1, 250.2 mm standard length, Iraq, Mosul (36°20'N, 43°08'E); BM(NH) 1972.3.16:1, 1, 112.1 mm standard length, Iraq, Dokan Lake (no other locality data); BM(NH) 1973.5.21:189-190, 2, 166.2-192.0 mm standard length, Iraq, Shatt-al-Arab (no other locality data); FMNH 51242, 1, 322.6 mm standard. length, Iraq, Halfaya east of Amara (31°49'N, 47°26'E); uncatalogued, 1, 200.8 mm standard length, Iraq, Hawr al Hammar (no other locality data). BM(NH) 1968.12.13:182, 1, 251.7 mm standard length, Syria, Cheria River, tributary to the Orontes River (no other locality data); NMW 90366, 1, 309.0 mm standard length, Turkey, Cermik on the Euphrates River (39°09'N, 39°27'E); NMW 90807, 1, 214.8 mm standard length, Turkey, Devegeçidi Çayi, Tigris River basin (no other locality data);

Genus Barbus
Cuvier and Cloquet, 1816

The barbels, genus Barbus sensu lato, are found in Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa and comprise about 800 species with 15 in Iran.

This genus includes a wide variety of species and is something of a catchall, serving to cover groups of species which have not been satisfactorily defined as distinct genera to general acceptance. Some authors recognise genera not recognised by others or regard these genera as subgenera - this necessarily affects the species count above. Characters in Southwest Asian species include a rounded or compressed body of moderate to very large size, large to very small scales (lateral line scale count range is at least 26-103), no scale sheath around the anal fin, scales have moderate to high numbers of radii and numerous fine circuli, the presence of barbels in most species, usually 2 pairs, often 1 pair and sometimes none (and individually variable within species), lips variably developed from thin to thick and fleshy, the lower lip sometimes with a well-developed median lobe (and lip development individually variable within species), the last unbranched ray in the short dorsal fin (usually 7-8 branched rays but sometimes more) is thickened and spine-like and may bear teeth or be smooth, a short anal fin, usually with 5 branched rays (but some have 6), pharyngeal teeth in 3 rows with hooked or spoon-shaped tips but sometimes heavy and massive or molariform, gut short, peritoneum white to brown or black, and colour usually brown without distinctive markings in the form of stripes, bands or spots (Barbus subquincunciatus is an exception).

Bănărescu and Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003) restrict Barbus to tetraploid species with scales having divergent striae. These species have 7-8, occasionally 9, branched dorsal fin rays, 5 branched anal fin rays, papillose lips and two pairs of barbels. This then excludes species placed in Carasobarbus, Kosswigobarbus, Mesopotamichthys and Tor (see below). For the moment, I am using Barbus as a catch-all genus and not separating out these proposed genera; the genus is clearly in need of a revision using molecular methods to complement data in morphology. Barbus under this restricted definition, ranges from England to the Urals, in northwest Africa, the basins of the Black, Caspian and Aral seas, Anatolia, the Levant, the Tigris-Euphrates basin and adjacent parts of Iran. African species do not belong to this genus. Two groups of species can be distinguished in this restricted Barbus according to Bănărescu and Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003), namely those with 5 pharyngeal teeth in the main row and a papillose lower lip separated from the chin by a groove and those with 4 pharyngeal teeth in the main row and a lower lip without papillae and continuous with the chin, this latter group being formerly recognised as the genus Luciobarbus Heckel, 1843 (and see below). The European/Caucasian member(s) of Barbus s. str. in Iran is lacerta and of Luciobarbus (treated as a subgenus in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003)) are brachycephalus and capito.

Berrebi and Tsigenopoulos in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003) review Barbus using molecular markers. They include Barbus cyri (a subspecies of B. lacerta according to some authors) and B. lacerta in the subgenus Barbus, their Northern Mediterranean Group, and B. brachycephalus, capito, esocinus, longiceps, mursa, mystaceus, pectoralis, rajanourum, subquincunciatus, xanthopterus and probably barbulus, kersin, sheich and scincus in the subgenus Luciobarbus, their Southern Group. Levin (2004) studied phenetic relationships of 7 Caucasian taxa and concurred with the division into Barbus and Luciobarbus. See under the species Barbus kosswigi for a discussion about the genus/subgenus Kosswigobarbus.

The genus Barbus Cuvier and Cloquet, 1816 has been split into a number of genera which have not met with general acceptance as noted above. Names used in Southwest Asia include Tor Gray, 1834 sensu Karaman, 1971, Labeobarbus Rüppell, 1836, Systomus McClelland, 1838, Luciobarbus Heckel, 1843, Barynotus Günther, 1868 (preoccupied), Aspiobarbus Berg, 1932, Bertinius Fang, 1943 (and Bertinus Banister, 1980, a misspelling), Bertinichthys Whitley, 1953 (an unneeded replacement of Bertinius), Mesopotamichthys Karaman, 1971, Carasobarbus Karaman, 1971 and Kosswigobarbus Karaman, 1971. Labeobarbus is generally considered to be a synonym of Tor, species of which are found mostly in the Oriental Realm, with perhaps only Barbus grypus in Iran being a member of the genus Tor (Karaman, 1971; Ekmekçi and Banarescu, 1998). Bertinius is regarded as a synonym of Luciobarbus in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003). A summary table of generic and/or subgeneric names is given below:-

Species	Original genus	Proposed genus or subgenus
barbulus	Barbus	Luciobarbus
brachycephalus	Barbus	Luciobarbus
capito	Cyprinus	Luciobarbus
esocinus	Luciobarbus	Luciobarbus
grypus	Barbus	Tor
kersin	Barbus	Luciobarbus
kosswigi	Cyclocheilichthys	Kosswigobarbus
lacerta	Barbus	Barbus
luteus	Systomus	Carasobarbus
mursa	Cyprinus	Luciobarbus
pectoralis	Barbus	Luciobarbus
sharpeyi	Barbus	Mesopotamichthys
sublimus	Barbus	Kosswigobarbus
subquincunciatus	Barbus	Luciobarbus
xanthopterus	Luciobarbus	Luciobarbus

Since the status of Middle Eastern Barbus s.l. species are still undergoing revision, all species are retained here under the catchall genus Barbus as the most familiar genus until a more final resolution is obtained.

There are also conflicting views on the validity and synonymy of several nominal Barbus species. An extensive comparison of these views is not given here (see, for example, Myers (1960), Karaman (1971), Almaça (1983, 1984a, 1984b, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994), Krupp (1985c), Howes (1987), Doadrio (1990), Eschmeyer (1990), Berrebi (1995), Berrebi et al. (1996), Tsigenopoulos and Berrebi (2000)). Karaman's studies have not found general acceptance. Author's views conflict, even when examining the same material. Problems include:- the low number of specimens examined (Almaça (1984a; 1986) for example, examined 11 nominal taxa relevant to Iran in detail but averaged only about 6 specimens per taxon, often from a single locality or outside Iranian waters); a wide range in size of individuals of species being compared making age related changes difficult to assess (denticles in the dorsal fin are often lost with age, barbels are shorter, body shape changes, etc); the possibility of sexual dimorphism; possible variation between populations; ecomorphs being recognised as genera (e.g. Luciobarbus was recognised by having 4, as opposed to 5, teeth in the outer pharyngeal tooth row; Bertinius is founded on this condition and development of molar teeth for crushing molluscs - but this may have risen independently in response to an ecological opportunity (see Krupp (1985c)); paedomorphosis and independent origins from a generalised form in different sites (Mina et al., 2001), and the lack of a wide range of new material. An adequate resolution of the systematics of the Barbus sensu lato species in the Tigris-Euphrates basin in particular would require extensive collections of new material from type localities and from the whole basin and comparison of this material with the extant types. Not all types are extant and some that do exist are in poor condition. If this were not complication enough, Barbus species are prone to hybridisation with other Barbus species and even other genera, further confusing the resolution of the issue. Almaça (1990) cites a hybridization rate of 5.5-6.0% in Barbus of the Iberian Peninsula, higher under changed ecological conditions such as the building of dams.

The status of Bertinius longiceps persicus Karaman, 1971 described from the "Karun b. Ahvaz, Persien" (= Karun River at Ahvaz, Khuzestan) on a single specimen is uncertain (lateral line 56-58, gill rakers 22, subterminal mouth, very short barbels, head somewhat higher and suddenly narrowing compared to the type subspecies of the Jordan and Orontes basins, acuminate snout, dorsal fin margin concave). It is not Barbus longiceps (F. Krupp, in litt., 1986). The holotype is in the Zoologischen Instituts und Zoologischen Museums der Universität Hamburg (ZMH H2509).

The roe or eggs of species in this genus have been implicated in poisoning (Halstead, 1967-1970) and should be avoided (see under the genus Schizothorax for more information on egg poisoning). Fish should be carefully cleaned in the spawning season to remove the eggs and ensure against contamination of flesh. Severe cases of egg poisoning in other species have resulted in death. Sykes (1927) however, in his account of the travels of Sir John Chardin in Persia (first published in 1686) quotes "Barbel.... the Spawn of them especially is dangerous, being a certain and a violent Vomit, by Reason that the Sun never shines on that Fish, and that it breeds in raw Waters; or because they take it with the Nux Vomica or the Vomiting Nut". Najafpour and Coad (2002) report a case of roe poisoning from eggs of B. luteus.

Barbels are found in running water of streams and rivers although some may inhabit ponds, springs and lakes. Most show migrations for spawning. A species called soleymani, possibly a Barbus species, was considered to be on the verge of extinction in the Gav Masiab River of the Tigris River basin, through pollution, overfishing, dam building, aquaculture, and introduction of exotics (IranMania.com, 29 December 2006). Barbus species in Khuzestan are thought to be the intermediate hosts of Heterophyidae flukes found in humans and carnivores (Massoud et al., 1981).

Kazeraani (1994) gives a short account of Iranian Barbus species in Farsi. The common names in Farsi for these fishes generally are سس ماهي (= sos, ses or sas mahi, meaning unknown) and زرده پر (= zardehpar), zardek or zardak and ourange or ourenge (in reference to yellow or orange colorations, probably of the fins).

The origin and movements of "palaearctic" or Euro-Mediterranean Barbus species in Southwest Asia have been examined by Banarescu (1976; 1977) and Almaça (1984b; 1988; 1990) and these works should be consulted for further details. These works are not cladistic analyses but groupings of species based on morphological similarities and may be subject to criticism on this account.

The origin of the genus Barbus according to these authors lies in East Asia and reached the Euro-Mediterranean region by a Siberian route. Barbus became extinct in northern East Asia, Siberia and northern Europe when the climate cooled during either the Pliocene or the Quaternary. Europe was colonised during the Oligocene and it is from Europe through Anatolia that Southwest Asia received many of its "palaearctic" Barbus. This route of entry probably did not occur before the Pliocene because the Syrian-Iranian Sea, the last connection between the Tethys Sea and the Indian Ocean, blocked passage of primary freshwater fishes into what is now Iran and adjacent regions although a connection between a Balkan-Aegean-Anatolian landmass and Iran was possible during the early Miocene (20-17 MYA). A marine transgression 16.8-11.8 MYA flooding the eastern Paratethys and the rise of mountain barriers led to independent evolution of Barbus in the Balkan-Aegean-Anatolian landmass and in the Iranian Plateau. During the late Miocene the eastern marine connection of Paratethys closed (11.8-10.5 MYA) allowing an exchange of Barbus between Iran and Anatolia, continuous from that time. The Paratethys became an intracontinental sea, the Sarmatian Sea, with a basin encompassing the present Black, Caspian and Aral seas and neighbouring low-lying areas (Bianco, 1990). The Sarmatian Sea freshened as large rivers entered it during the late Miocene and Pliocene, facilitating dispersal of freshwater fishes. A second route of entry for Barbus to northern Iran was via southwestern Siberia and the Aral Sea basin during the early to middle Oligocene. Bănărescu and Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003) agree on an east Asian origin for Barbus, dispersing across Siberia and western Asia. The group split into two branches, one forming Barbus sensu stricto and using a dispersal route north of the Ponto-Caspian basin and reaching western Europe and another (Luciobarbus) dispersing across the present-day Mediterranean Sea (see above in discussion of Berrebi and Tsigenopoulos in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003) for listing of nominal taxa relevant to Iran in these branches or groups).

A recent overview of Barbus systematics restricts the genus to Europe, Southwest Asia and Northwest Africa (Berrebi et al., 1996). Barbus sensu stricto is recognised as a lineage which shares morphological characters, has an ancestral tetraploid origin of 2n=100, and has similar karyotypes, biochemical markers and parasites. Genetic studies indicate four groups of species, namely West European and Ponto-Caspian, Iberian, Northwest African and Levantine. Iberian barbels are found in Spain and Portugal and along within the Northwest African barbels share no species with Iran. The West European and Ponto-Caspian barbels include B. brachycephalus, B. capito and B. mursa, and the Levantine barbels include B. barbulus, B. cyri, B. esocinus, B. lacerta, B. pectoralis, B. rajanorum, B. scincus, B. subquincunciatus and B. xanthopterus. The authors make no comments on the validity of these nominal species and only B. brachycephalus has been examined in detail for karyotypes and/or nuclear markers. This work is continuing and the authors advocate various methods. They note that accurate descriptions of many taxa are lacking and that morphology is still the fastest and most cost-efficient way to identify species. Accurate identification is the foundation for all other studies.

Machordom and Doadrio (2001), using ATPase 6 and 8 and cytochrome b, found differentiation in Barbus capito and B. brachycephalus in the Plio-Pleistocene. A clade of the subgenus Luciobarbus was found for species from the Caucasus (as above), Greece and North Africa compared to the Iberian Peninsula, isolation having occurred after the Messinian salinity crisis 5.5 MY ago when the Iberian Peninsula broke away from Africa.

Berrebi et al. (1996) recommend that Barbus-like species which cannot be allocated to a clearly defined genus should be placed in a genus called `Barbus', surrounded by single quotation marks, until the systematic position is elucidated.

Barbus barbulus
Heckel, 1849

Common names

lab pahn (= broad lip), برزم (berzem or barzam); berzem lab pahn in Khuzestan and Iraq to distinguish it from B. pectoralis; boz mahi (= goat fish) or سس ماهي (= sos or sas mahi in the Dalaki and Shapur river basins); dolenj.

[abu-barattum (= owner or father of lips), abu baratem, abu bratum or nabbash in Arabic; Orontes barbel].

Systematics

Howes (1987) places this species in Barbus sensu stricto. Karaman (1971) places this species in the synonymy of Barbus rajanorum but other authorities consider it to be Barbus pectoralis (q.v.). Almaça (1983) placed this species as a subspecies of Barbus mystaceus but later (1984a, 1984b, 1986, 1991) retained barbulus as a full species, known only from the Levant, despite Heckel's record from both the Qarah Aqaj (= Mand) of Fars, Iran and the Quwayq (= Kueik) River of the Levant. I retain it as a species under Heckel's name for this taxon until the systematics of this and related species can be worked out as indicated above. It is separated from mystaceus according to Almaça (1983) by having thinner lips, shorter barbels, the last unbranched dorsal ray weaker and shorter, more dense denticles spread over a shorter length of ray, higher anal fin, gill rakers less numerous and the upper dorsal profile is rectilinear and oblique to the back.

The type locality of Barbus Barbulus is the "Fluss Kara-Agatsch....bei dem Dorfe Geré" (= Qarah Aqaj or Mand River, Fars; possibly near Kereft, 29°01'N, 52°52'E) and presumably the "Kueik bei Aleppo" (Heckel, 1846-1849b). J. Valiallahi, pers. comm., 2001 and Edmondson and Lack (2006) suggest Jereh at 29°15'N, 51°58'E but this is in the Hilleh River drainage, a Dalaki River tributary. In addition, "Geré" takes a hard G in German, not a J. There may be some confusion of names and rivers here.

A possible syntype of barbulus from the Qarah Aqaj was located by Almaça (1983, 1986) in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NMW 53957) and seen by me but is in too poor condition to be of much value, being mostly bones. Another syntype is listed as NMW 6596 and measures 119.3 mm standard length. In 1997, this was the only syntype recognised and is possibly the same as NMW 53957 re-numbered as the latter was not located in 2002. The catalogue in Vienna lists only 1 fish, while Heckel's description refers to several fish. NMW 6596 is mostly bones and is dried. The fleshy lip fold of the original description could not be discerned, teeth are missing and the dorsal fin is broken off short.

"Syntypes" of mystaceus are in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien from Mosul on the Tigris River (NMW 16472 (1 specimen), NMW 50394 (2), NMW 54384 (2)) and NMW 54385 (2) but note that authors such as Karaman (1971) and Almaça (1983, 1991) refer the species description to Heckel (1843) in error. These were not marked as being syntypes as observed on a 1997 visit to Vienna.

Key characters

This species is characterised by having two pairs of barbels, a serrated and very strong dorsal fin spine similar to that in Capoeta trutta in its proportions relative to the body, usually 8 dorsal fin rays (never 10), fleshy lips, and 47 or more lateral line scales.

Morphology

The inferior mouth is moderate in size, with moderate to thick lips and with or without a median lower lip lobe. Some fish have very thick lips so a central lobe is apparent. Some show such a degree of lip development as to appear almost abnormal while fish of similar size or larger lack this hypertrophy. In the latter case, the anterior head may be bluntly rounded and foreshortened rather than having an almost straight upper margin tapering to a pointed end. Barbels are relatively thin, occasionally quite thick. The anterior barbel does not extend past the anterior eye margin level and the posterior one not past the posterior eye margin in all sizes of fish. Rarely the anterior barbel extends to mid-eye level and the posterior one almost to the anterior operculum margin.

Dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 8-9, usually 8, branched rays, anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5 branched rays. The last unbranched dorsal fin ray is usually very strong with a moderate density of denticles extending along much of the ray but its strength is variably developed. Pectoral fin branched rays 17-19, pelvic fin branched rays 8-9, usually 8. Lateral line scales 47-59. Scale focus subcentral anterior, many fine circuli, and numerous radii on all fields, curved in the lateral fields. A pelvic axillary scale is present but not strongly developed or apparent. Gill rakers 14-24, reaching the second raker when appressed. The interior raker surface may be covered with spinules, the internal base is heavily tubercular and the tips may become club-shaped. Pharyngeal teeth 1 or 2,3,4 or 5-5 or 4,3,2 or 1, hooked at the tip but spoon-like below with the fourth tooth of the inner row molariform, with or without a blunt projection (hooked in small fish) and much larger than the third, and the fifth tooth very small and rounded and sometimes absent apparently independent of size. The gut is elongate and complexly coiled with one anterior and 3 posterior loops. Total vertebrae 44 (Howes, 1987).

Meristics in Iranian fish are as follows: dorsal fin branched rays 8(26); anal fin branched rays 5(26); pectoral fin branched rays 17(6), 18(15), or 19(5); pelvic fin branched rays 8(25) or 9(1); lateral line scales 47(1), 48(3), 49(4), 50(4), 51(2), 52(5), 53(4), 54(1), 56(1) or 57(1); total gill rakers 15(1), 17(1), 18(4), 19(3), 20(6), 21(5), 22(2), 23(3) or 24(1); pharyngeal teeth 2,3,5-5,3,2(18), 2,3,5-4,3,2(3), 2,3,4-5,3,2(3), 2,3,5-5,3,1(1) or 2,3,4-4,3,2(1); total vertebrae ?.

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown.

Colour

The back and upper flank are brownish, the lower flank yellowish and the belly whitish. Upper flank scales are outlined with pigment, and the anterior edge of the dorsal fin and the caudal fin margin are black in preserved fish. Small fish have a few spots on the upper to mid-flank or may be profusely speckled in preservative.

Small live fish are silvery overall and have anal and caudal fins orange to bright red, especially the lower caudal fin lobe. The dorsal fin is grey and the pectoral and pelvic fins yellowish. The operculum is greenish. The lower flank is greenish-golden and the upper flank brown to grey. Large specimens are silvery with clear fins. The belly in small and large fish is white and the back grey to brown. The iris is silvery. The peritoneum is black.

Size

Reaches 38 cm; J. Valiallahi (pers. comm., 2001) believes this species reaches 1.5 m and 90 kg in the Zagros rivers of western Iran.

Distribution

Found in the Tigris-Euphrates basin, the Orontes River and the Quwayq River. In Iran it is found in the Tigris River basin (Abdoli, 2000; Ghorbani Chafi, 2000), in the Gulf basin from the Zohreh River and from the Shapur and Dalaki rivers (Gh. Izadpanahi, pers. comm., 1995), the lower Mand River (M. Rabbaniha, pers. comm., 1995), the Helleh, Dozgah, Dasht-e Palang (and its tributary the Shur) (Abdoli, 2000), in the Kor River basin (Abdoli, 2000), although not confirmed by specimens seen by me, and possibly in the Hormozgan basin.

Zoogeography

Almaça (1991) believes that this species originated from a colonisation wave from South Europe.

Habitat

van den Eelaart (1954) records this species from rivers in Iraq, moving into lakes and marshes on the floods but never far from rivers.

Age and growth

Unknown.

Food

Diet is benthic organisms including insects. Large plant remains and detritus are also present in gut contents of Iranian fish.

Reproduction

Al-Habbib et al. (1986) report spawning during July and August in fish from the Tigris River at Mosul, Iraq. Reproduction in Iran has not been studied.

Parasites and predators

None reported from Iran.

Economic importance

This species is a preferred catch of anglers at Ahvaz in Khuzestan, second only to shirbot (Barbus grypus).

Conservation

The population numbers of this species have not been well-studied nor has its distribution been well-documented. Since it does appear on fish markets in Khuzestan, is a large species and its habitats are under threat, it may require protection. Endangered in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007).

Further work

The biology, distribution and population numbers of this species need investigation in Iranian waters.

Sources

Type material: See above, Barbus barbulus (NMW 6596), and note comments.

Iranian material: CMNFI 1979-0024, 1, 128.7 mm standard length, Fars, neighbourhood of Shiraz (no other locality data); CMNFI 1979-0109, 2, 91.1-91.6 mm standard length, Fars, Mand River at Shahr-e Khafr (28º56'N, 53º14'E); CMNFI 1979-0135, 1, 215.4 mm standard length, Fars, tributary to Mand River (28º08'N, 53º10'E); CMNFI 1979-0271, 1, 61.8 mm standard length, Lorestan, Kashkan River drainage (33º39'N, 48º32'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0290, 1, 139.1 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Diyala River drainage in Qasr-e Shirin (34º31'N, 45º35'E); CMNFI 1979-0293, 1, 210.8 mm standard length, Fars, Mand River at Kavar (29º11'N, 52º41'E); CMNFI 1979-0349, 1, 126.0 mm standard length, Fars, Mand River at Kavar (29º11'N, 52º41'E); CMNFI 1979-0393, 1, 112.1 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Jarrahi River drainage (31º18'N, 49º37'E); CMNFI 1979-0497, 2, 117.4-134.4 mm standard length, Fars, Mand River at Band-e Bahman (29º11'N, 52º40'E); CMNFI 1980-0907, 1, ? mm standard length, Iran (no other locality data); CMNFI 1991-0153, 1, 230.0 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Zohreh River (no other locality data); CMNFI 2007-0109, 3, 85.1-138.7 mm standard length, Kordestan, Qeshlaq River basin south of Sanandaj (ca. 35º16'N, ca. 47º01'E); CMNFI 2007-0110, 1, 191.1 mm standard length, Kordestan, Yuzidar River basin (ca. 35º05'N, ca. 46º56'E); CMNFI 2007-0111, 1, 153.0 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Alvand River near Sar-e Pol-e Zahab (ca. 34º36'N, ca. 45º56'E); CMNFI 2007-0113, 2, 123.9-139.6 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Qareh Su tributary northwest of Kermanshah (ca. 34º25'N, ca. 47º01'E); CMNFI 2007-0117, 4, 43.4-155.5 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Gav Masiab near Sahneh (ca. 34º24'N, ca. 47º40'E); uncatalogued, 1, 60.2 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Rud Zard at Rud Zard (31º22'N, 49º43'E).

Comparative material: BM(NH) 1920.3.3:23-30, 9, 80.2-98.9 mm standard length, (); BM(NH) 1931.12.21:4, 172.5 mm standard length, (); BM(NH) 1971.4.2:5, 1, 140.3 mm standard length, Iraq, Tigris near Mosul (36º20'N, 43º08'E); BM(NH) 1972.3.16:2, 69.4 mm standard length, Iraq, 10 km northwest Qala Dize (); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1270, 174.6 mm standard length, (); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1271-1272, 2, 91.9-210.2 mm standard length, (); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1273-1274, 58.4-62.0 mm standard length, (); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1275-1277, 3, 182.4-201.0 mm standard length, (); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1278, 81.9 mm standard length, (); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1289, 173.3 mm standard length, ();

Barbus brachycephalus
Kessler, 1872

Common names

zardek, زرده پر (= zardehpar), سس ماهي (= sos or sas mahi), سس ماهي خزري (sas mahi khazari), sassmahi-ye Daryaye-Khazar.

[xazar sirbiti or shirbit in Azerbaijan; Kaspiiskii usach or Caspian barbel and korotkogolovyi ustach or short-headed barbel in Russian; Aral barbel; short-headed barbel].

Systematics

Barbus brachycephalus was originally described from the Syr Darya in Uzbekistan.

Howes (1987) considers the generic placement of this species to be problematical. It has slender barbels, 7 branched dorsal fin rays and the cranium is broad and flat, all characters at odds with Barbus sensu stricto. Doadrio (1990) places it in the subgenus Luciobarbus Heckel, 1843 based on a series of 4 synapomorphic osteological characters, namely the exoccipital contacts the pterotic "largely" (sic, probably broadly), high medial process of the urohyal, narrow exoccipital apophysis of the pterotic, and wide 4th and 5th infraorbitals.

Barbus obtusirostris (non Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1842) Jakovlev, 1870 (nomen praeoccupatum), described from the Volga River delta, Russia, is a synonym.

A possible syntype of B. brachycephalus from the Aral Sea is in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NMW 53971) (Almaça, 1986). The NMW card index lists this fish plus 2 fish in NMW 53972 and 1 fish in NMW 53973 as syntypes. Syntypes in St. Petersburg, Russia are lost (Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003). Syntypes of Barbus brachycephalus caspius are in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg under 2892 (8 fish), Transcaucasia, 3895 (8), Lenkoran, 9076 (22), 9085 (10), 9109(2), 9117(11), 9118(1), 9124(8), 9128(9), all from the lower Aras River and Lenkoran, 17042(2), 17043(1), 17044(1), all from the Bank Fishery along the lower Kura River. Syntypes under 10619 are apparently lost and a fish under 9108 is actually a Barbus capito (Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003).

The Caspian Sea basin subspecies is Barbus brachycephalus caspius Berg, 1914, described originally from the Caspian Sea basin (Eschmeyer et al., 1996). Karaman (1971), however, considers differences with the type subspecies of the Aral Sea basin to be minor and not worthy of subspecific recognition. Differences are in body proportions and the Caspian barbel has a smaller eye, lower dorsal fin, less deep body and head, longer pectoral-pelvic distance, shorter pelvic-anal distance, and dorsal fin further back than in the Aral barbel (Berg, 1948-1949). Fricke et al. (2007) list this taxon as a full species but also have brachycephalus in the same system in Turkey (Kura-Aras).

Key characters

The 7 branched dorsal fin rays and the predorsal distance shorter than the postdorsal distance distinguishes this species from B. capito, and colour pattern distinguishes it from B. lacerta, the other Caspian Sea barbels.

Morphology

The mouth is moderate in size and subterminal. Lips are thin to moderate, without a median lobe on the lower lip, and barbels are of moderate thickness. The anterior barbels can reach the level of the posterior eye margin and the posterior barbels reach or pass the preopercle level but barbel lengths show marked individual variation.

Dorsal fin with 3-5, usually 4, unbranched and 6-8, usually 7, branched rays, anal fin with 2-3, usually 3, unbranched and 5-6, usually 5, branched rays. Pectoral fin branched rays 14-17 and pelvic fin branched rays 7-8, usually 8. The dorsal fin denticles on the last unbranched ray are usually moderate in number, but may be lost in very large adults, are usually well-developed and extend along four-fifths of the ray (Karaman, 1971). This ray is very strong. Lateral line scales 62-90, commonly 65-77. Scales are elongate with a central focus and few anterior and posterior radii in young fish. There is a pelvic axillary scale. Gill rakers 16-25, short and reaching the one below when appressed. Pharyngeal teeth 2,3,5-5,3,2, hooked at the tip with the fourth tooth of the inner row large and blunt and the first three spatulate, rarely 2,3,4-5,3,2 or 2,3,4-4,3,2. Total vertebrae 45-50, usually 46-49, mode 48. The gut is coiled anteriorly. The chromosome number is 2n=100 (Klinkhardt et al., 1995).

Iranian specimens have the following meristics: branched dorsal fin rays 7(3), branched anal rays 5(3), branched pectoral fin rays 16(1) or 17(2), and branched pelvic fin rays 8(3). Lateral line scales 69(2) or 71(1). Total gill rakers 18(1) or 19(2). Pharyngeal teeth 2,3,5-5,3,2(2) or 2,3,4-5,3,2(1). Total vertebrae ?.

Sexual dimorphism

Abdurakhmanov (1962) reports on fish from the Kura River basin where males have a longer dorsal fin base and females have a greater maximum body depth, width and girth. Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003) report that males have a shorter head and longer unpaired fins; nuptial tubercles and colouration are absent.

Colour

The back is dark green, flanks and belly lighter, and the two areas may contrast as in Barbus capito. No dark spots on the body. Fins greyish. Peritoneum brown.

Size

Reaches 22.5 kg (Robins et al., 1991) and 1.2 m.

Distribution

Found in the Caspian and Aral seas and their tributaries. In Iran, it was formerly known from the Anzali Mordab but is probably no longer present (Holčík and Oláh, 1992; but see below) and it was listed as rare in the Safid Rud (Derzhavin, 1934). Nedoshivin and Il'in (1929) and Nevraev (1929) recorded it from the Gorgan, Astrabad and Enzeli (= Anzali) regions. Recent works place it in rivers from the Astara to the Neka and Gorgan Bay peninsula, in the Anzali Mordab, and along the whole Caspian Sea coast but these are summaries of past and present distributions (Riazi, 1996; Abbasi et al., 1999; Kiabi et al., 1999; Abdoli, 2000). This species is now very rare in the Caspian Sea basin of Iran, with only a couple of specimens found in a recent survey (M. Ramin, pers. comm., 2000).

This species is also recorded from the Karakum Canal and Kopetdag Reservoir in Turkmenistan (Shakirova and Sukhanova, 1994; Sal'nikov, 1995) and may eventually reach Iranian waters in the Tedzhen (= Hari) River basin.

Zoogeography

Almaça (1984b) considers this species to be a Sarmatian Sea remnant, a Neogene brackish-water basin.

Habitat

Enters rivers to spawn but does not ascend as high as Barbus capito. It prefers deep sections of rivers with stony and gravel bottoms. In the Caspian Sea it may be found at 13-25 m depth. On the Kura River in Azerbaijan there is a spring run and one in August-September. The spring run begins in March and lasts about 50 days; the summer run starts after a short interruption and lasts about 190 days. The water temperature at the start of the spring run is 6.7-11.0°C but the most intensive migration is in summer at 25.2-27.2°C (Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003). Spring run fish spawn in the same year. This species has been recorded at depths of 11.0-11.9 m in the Iranian Caspian Sea (Knipovich, 1921). Riazi (1996) reports that this species migrates into the Siah-Keshim Protected Region of the Anzali Mordab. Jolodar and Abdoli (2004) state that it is more abundant in Gilan than in Mazandaran coastal waters.

Young females usually enter the sea immediately but males may remain in fresh water for 3-5 years. Spawners return to the sea.

Age and growth

Most fish examined by Razivi et al. (1972) from commercial catches in Iran were 2-7 years old, 38.0-69.0 cm long and weighed 698-4658 g. Low recruitment is attributed to poor spawning success, a result of water abstraction during its spawning season. Sexual maturity is attained at 6-8 years. Holčík and Oláh (1992) note that the Anzali region catches are dominated by 3-5 year old fish, 38-71 cm fork length, with rapid growth and a weight of 2 kg attained during the fifth year of life. Abdurakhmanov (1962) gives a maximum life span of 13 years in Azerbaijan. Females live longer than males which only reach 10 years (Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003).

Food

No detailed literature reports but gut contents of small specimens from Iran contain crustaceans, and insects such as, curiously, ants, thrips and mosquitos. This fish evidently feeds on insects taken at the surface and is reported as leaping out of the water to take flying insects (Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003). Mayflies and caddisflies are also taken and gut contents includes detritus. Crustaceans are the main food taken in the Caspian Sea (Abdurakhmanov, 1962) but molluscs are also recorded as well as small fish.

Reproduction

This barbel spawns in swift streams over pebbles or sand during July and August in Iran and the eggs attach to rocks (Razivi et al., 1972). Holčík and Oláh (1992) and Makeeva and Pavlov (2000) state that eggs are semipelagic, hatching as they drift downstream over 2 days at 25°C. Fry are carried downstream. Up to 1,259,000 bright-yellow eggs are produced of 1.4 mm diameter and the spawning season on the Kura River begins at the end of April, peaks in June and ends at the end of August. Favoured temperatures are 20-23°C (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). First spawning is at 5-7 years of age with females taking a year longer to mature than males (Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003).

Parasites and predators

Molnár and Jalali (1992) record the monogenean Dactylogyrus affinis from this species in the Safid River.

Economic importance

This species is caught as a food fish in Iran. Nevraev (1929) records catches of 37 to 962 individuals from the Anzali region for the years 1914-1915 to 1917-1918. It was abundant in the Anzali Mordab with total catches for Iran of 54.6 t and 32.9 t in 1969/70 and 1970/71 (28.7 t and 14.4 t for the Anzali region alone) but few fish are captured now (Holčík and Oláh, 1992) (note that these figures were taken from Appendix 11, on page 10 they are reversed). They are caught in rogas (outflowing rivers from the Anzali Mordab) and inflowing rivers of the mordab (lagoon) in late winter and early spring. On the Kura River of Azerbaijan average weight in catches was 5.6 kg for females and 3.5 kg for males and the catch from 1920-1944 varied from 0.2 to 3.6 thousand centners.

Robins et al. (1991) list this species as important to North Americans. Importance is based on its use as food and in aquaria.

Conservation

Vulnerable in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007). Stocks of this species have declined because of poor habitat for spawning and the construction of dams and weirs which restricted access to spawning grounds. Water abstraction for irrigation during the summer spawning season would have to be balanced against the requirements of the fish. Larvae of spring spawners are lost when they enter irrigation channels and become stranded in fields (Razivi et al., 1972).

Once known from the Anzali Mordab, it is now absent to rare there and apparently replaced by Barbus capito (Holčík and Oláh, 1992). Kiabi et al. (1999) consider this species to be critically endangered in the south Caspian Sea basin according to IUCN criteria. Criteria include commercial fishing, sport fishing, few in number, habitat destruction, limited range (less than 25% of water bodies), absent in other water bodies in Iran, and absent outside the Caspian sea basin.

This species is regarded as critically endangered through illegal overfishing, pollutants and the destruction of breeding and nursery grounds. Only 2 specimens were caught in the 3 years prior to 2000 during a study of Barbus species in Iran. Additionally, during the 6 month beach seine fishing season (October to April) for the years 1998 and 1999 along the Caspian shore, no specimens were caught in 138 beach seines used 51,000 times (M. Ramin, pers comm., 2000).

Further work

Detailed surveys, perhaps returning captures alive, need to be carried out to monitor the status of this species in Iran.

Sources

Type material: ?

Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0553, 2, ? mm standard length, Gilan, Sowsar Roga (37º27'N, 49º30'E); CMNFI 1980-0120, 1, 115.3 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Babol River at Babol Sar (36º43'N, 52º39'E);

Barbus capito
(Güldenstaedt, 1773)

B. capito (above) and B. mursa (below) Aras River, 2 October 1994
Courtesy of Asghar Abdoli

Common names

usach bulatmai, usach chanari; zardi, zardek, zardak, زرده پر (= zardehpar), zard pareh, اورنج (oranj, orenj, orenge or ourange, possibly from the yellowish fin colour)سس ماهي (= sos, sas or sass mahi), pulad mahi (= steel fish from body colour), ses mahi bozorg (= big ? fish, ses being a word of unknown meaning).

[zardapar, shirbit, yastibas zardapar for natio platycephalus, all in Azerbaijan; tchanari in Georgian; bulatmai in Turkish; usach (or usatch) bulatmai and usach chanari in Russian]. Bulatmai is derived from Farsi, bulat = pulad or steel, mai = mahi or fish in reference to the colour on the upper flank].

Systematics

Cyprinus capito was originally described from the Kura River, Transcaucasia. No types are extant.

Howes (1987) places this species in Barbus sensu stricto. Doadrio (1990) places it in the subgenus Luciobarbus Heckel, 1843 based on a series of osteological characters (listed under Barbus brachycephalus).

Cyprinus bulatmai Hablizl, 1783 (after Berg (1948-1949; Rainboth (1981) has Gmelin, 1774 as the author while Eschmeyer et al. (1996) have Gmelin, 1784 (originally described from Anzali, Iran), Cyprinus chalybatus Pallas, 1814 (originally described from Anzali, Iran), Cyprinus mystaceus Pallas, 1814 (partim, from Tiflis), Barbus conocephalus Kessler, 1872 described from the Zeravshan River, Uzbekistan, Barbus lacertoides Kessler, 1872 described from the Syr-Darya in the neighbourhood of Khodzhent (= Leninabad), Tajikistan, Barbus capito var. tiflissica Kamenskii, 1899 described from the Kura River at Tiflis (= Tbilisi), Georgia, and Barbus bilkewitschi Bulgakov, 1923 (originally described from the "Atrek", i.e. the Atrak River in Turkmenistan on the northeastern border of Iran; also spelt bilkewitchi on page 236 in Bulgakov but bilkewitschi on the plate), are synonyms. Barbus capito serratus Sokolinskii, 1927 is a subspecies from the southern Caspian Sea and Barbus capito platycephalus Abdurakhmanov, 1960 is a subspecies or a natio in the lower Kura River basin (see Abdurakhmanov (1962) for further details). Berg (1948-1949) and Karaman (1971) consider Barbus capito serratus to be a synonym of B. c. capito.

Bianco and Banarescu (1982) record this species from the Hablehrud and the Kul River basin at Darab in Persian Gulf drainages. The 2 specimens have 52 lateral line scales, 8 branched dorsal fin rays and 18-19 gill rakers. They acknowledge that these 2 fish have fewer scales than B. capito from the Caspian Sea basin but believe they may represent a new subspecies. These fish are presumed to be misidentifications as B. capito is restricted to the Caspian Sea basin.

Laloei et al. (2003) using the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene found no separable populations of this species in 60 samples from the Iranian Caspian Sea coast and rivers.

Key characters

The 8 branched dorsal fin rays and the predorsal distance considerably longer than the postdorsal distance distinguishes this species from B. brachycephalus, and colour pattern distinguishes it from B. lacerta, the other Caspian Sea barbels.

Morphology

There is a rounded keel on the back in front of the dorsal fin. The mouth is moderate in size, inferior and horseshoe-shaped. Lips are fleshy and well-developed with tubercles but there is no free median lobe on the lower lip. Barbels can be the most developed in thickness in this species among the Barbus considered here but this can vary. The anterior barbel extends back between the anterior eye margin level and its middle and the posterior barbel extends to the posterior eye margin level or almost to the preopercle in young and some adults.

Dorsal fin with 3-5, usually 4-5, unbranched rays followed by 7-9, usually 8, branched rays and anal fin with 2-4, usually 3, unbranched and 5-6, usually 5, branched rays. Pectoral fin branched rays 15-19 and pelvic fin branched rays 7-9. The dorsal fin denticles on the last unbranched ray may be lost in very large adults but are evident for two-thirds or more of the spine length in most fish (Karaman, 1971; Almaça, 1981). The last unbranched ray is moderately strong and the denticles are of moderate density along it. Lateral line scales 51-72, usually 60-66 (Karaman (1971) gives 36-70 but he includes 8 subspecies over a wide range within his definition of the species). There is no obvious pelvic axillary scale although scales in this region are elongate. The scale focus is slightly subcentral anterior, there are numerous fine circuli, and there are radii on all fields with those on the lateral fields few and often curved. Gill rakers 12-19, rarely to 22, increasing in number with the size of the fish, reaching the one below or slightly further when appressed, rounded and knobbed tip, and a large internal rounded extension. Pharyngeal teeth usually 2,3,5-5,3,2 with minor variants, hooked and spoon-like below with the depression below the crown filled in, the fourth one in the inner row the largest and pointed or blunt and rounded, the fifth smaller and blunt. The gut is long and complexly coiled with several anterior and posterior loops. Total vertebrae 42-45 (Howes, 1987), 45-47 (Elanidze, 1983), 43-49 (Bogutskaya, Bănărescu and Almaça in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003). Chromosome number 2n=100, NF=172 (Pourali Darestani et al., 2006).

Iranian fish have the following meristics: branched dorsal fin rays 7(1) or 8(49), anal fin branched rays 5(50), pectoral fin branched rays 16(3), 17(27), 18(18) or 19(2), pelvic fin rays 7(2) or 8(48); lateral line scales 53(3), 54(4), 55(7), 56(10), 57(6), 58(7), 59(7), 60(5) or 61(1); total gill rakers 13(3), 14(15), 15(18), 16(9), 17(4) or 18(1); pharyngeal teeth 2,3,5-5,3,2(33), 2,3,5-5,3,1(1), 2,3,4-5,3,2(2), 2,3,5-4,3,2(1), 2,3,5-5,2,1(1), 2,2,5-5,3,2(1); and total vertebrae ?

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown, apparently no spawning colouration or breeding tubercles.

Colour

The upper flank and head are steel-grey (hence bulat mahi) and the lower flank and belly are a strongly contrasting pale yellow or pearly-white. Occasionally fish with a uniform coloration are found and preserved material may be uniform. The steel-grey upper flank may be comprised of dark scale margins surrounding a silvery-grey scale centre. The lateral line may be darkly pigmented. Spots may occur individually on the body. The iris is silvery with a grey exterior ring and a very narrow interior golden ring. Barbels are white with grey on the inner surface. The dorsal fin is greyish and may have some dark grey spots. The caudal fin has a greyish or yellowish or slightly orange upper lobe, sometimes with faint dark grey spots, a more strongly coloured and larger yellow-orange to canary-yellow lower lobe and pink margins. The pectoral fin is whitish with a little or considerable amount of pink or yellow. The pelvic and anal fins are canary-yellow to orange with a white margin. Young fish may be darkly speckled and mottled on the mid and upper flank rather like Barbus lacerta. Peritoneum dark brown.

Size

Reaches 1.05 m and 15 kg in literature reports. A specimen from the Sardabrud was 85 cm and 5.5 kg (A. Abdoli, pers. comm., 1995).

Distribution

Found in the basins of the Black, Caspian and Aral seas. Karaman (1971) gives a distribution from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa to Southwest Asia but he includes 8 subspecies within his definition of Barbus capito.

In Iran, this species is found in the Caspian Sea basin, in rivers from the Aras to the Atrak and the Anzali Mordab, the Qezel Owzan and Shahrud in the upper Safid River basin, and the along the sea coast (Derzhavin, 1934; Bianco and Banarescu, 1982; Almaca 1984a; Aliev et al., 1988; Holčík and Oláh, 1992; Kiabi et al., 1994; Abbasi et al., 1999; Kiabi et al., 1999; Abdoli, 2000).

Barbus capito conocephalus Kessler, 1872 is reported from the Karakum Canal, Kopetdag Reservoir and Uzboi lakes in Turkmenistan (Shakirova and Sukhanova, 1994; Sal'nikov, 1995) and may eventually be recorded from the Tedzhen River and Caspian Sea basins in Iran.

Zoogeography

Almaça (1984b) considers this species to be a Sarmatian Sea remnant, a Neogene brackish-water basin, and related to Euro-Mediterranean Barbus.

Habitat

This species avoids muddy bottoms (Solak, 1977) although Bogutskaya, Bănărescu and Almaça in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003) report that it prefers warm, deep, slowly-flowing water above gravel, sand or mud and can be found in lacustrine habitats. Spawning migrations in the Kura River of Azerbaijan go as far up as Aragva and generally it ascends to the uppermost tributaries of rivers it enters. The spawning run in the Kura lasts almost the whole year except for the two coldest months. However the main spawning runs are in September-October and April (Bogutskaya, Bănărescu and Almaça in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003). The Caspian Sea form is anadromous but there are also resident forms in the rivers there. Knipovich (1921) reports this species at depths of 9.15-14.2 m, possibly deeper, in the Iranian Caspian Sea. There are both resident and andromous populations in the Anzali lagoon (Karimpour, 1998).

Age and growth

Solak (1989c) examined a population of this species in the Aras River in Turkey and found a life span of over 4 years, but over 6 years in the Çoruh River of the Black Sea basin of Turkey. In the Caspian Sea basin fish may live up to 8 years (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). Anadromous fish are heavier than fish of the same length that are river residents. Maturity is attained at 3-5 years with females mature one year later than males. Spring migrants spawn that summer while summer or autumn migrants overwinter to spawn the following spring or summer (Bogutskaya, Bănărescu and Almaça in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003). Shajiee et al. (2002) found a sex ratio of 3:1 for male:female fish in the Caspian Sea off Gilan and a life span of 8 years. Gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices, length-weight relationships and other growth and fecundity indices were given.

Food

Stomach contents consist of insects, crustaceans and worms, and filamentous algae and other plant material with associated invertebrates. Terrestrial insects, small fishes and frogs are also taken. Abdoli (2000) reports Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Chironomidae. One specimen from Iran had fish remains, possibly a small Barbus capito. Abdurakhmanov (1962) reports grasshoppers and ants, presumably taken at the surface.

Reproduction

Eggs number up to 193,600 and diameters up to 1.8 mm in Azerbaijan (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). A fish with well-developed testes was caught in the Gorgan River on 7 July, suggesting a spawning season of late spring and summer, agreeing with egg diameters of fish from Azerbaijan which are largest in June.

Parasites and predators

Molnár and Jalali (1992) record the monogenean Dactylogyrus linstowi from this species in the Safid Rud. Masoumian and Pazooki (1998) surveyed myxosporeans in this species in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces, finding Myxobolus musculi. Masoumian et al. (2005) recorded the protozoan parasites Ichthyophthirius multifilis and Trichodina perforata from this species in water bodies in West Azarbayjan. Masoumian et al. (2003) record Myxobolus musculi while Pazooki et al. (2003) and Pazooki (2006) record Rhabdochona hellichi, Paradiplozoon homoion and Pseudocapillaria tomentosa, all reports from fishes captured in the Tajan and Zarem rivers of Mazandaran. Sattari (2004) records the presence of the nematode, Eustrongylides excisus, in the body cavity. This parasite can damage muscles in commercial species and render them unsuitable for sale. Sattari et al. (2005) surveyed this species in the inshore area of the Caspian Sea, recording Eustrongyloides excisus and Anisakis sp. Pazooki et al. (2007) recorded various parasites from localities in West Azarbayjan Province, including Neoechinorhynchus rutili from this species.

Economic importance

Holčík and Oláh (1992) report a catch of only 9 kg in the Anzali Mordab for 1990. This species had a catch of 17 tonnes in 1997, 28 t in 1998 and 7 t in 1999 during the 6 month beach seine fishing season (October to April). For the years 1998 and 1999, 138 beach seines were used 51,000 times (M. Ramin, pers. comm., 2000). This species was of minor importance commercially in the former U.S.S.R. and is a sport fish in Georgia (Bogutskaya, Bănărescu and Almaça in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003). In East Azarbayjan it reaches sizes large enough for sport fishing and as a commercial species (Ghasemi, 2002).

Conservation

Kiabi et al. (1999) consider this species to be conservation dependent in the south Caspian Sea basin according to IUCN criteria. Criteria include commercial fishing, sport fishing, medium in numbers, habitat destruction, widespread range (75% of water bodies), absent in other water bodies in Iran, and present outside the Caspian Sea basin. Mostafavi (2007) lists it as conservation dependent in the Talar River, Mazandaran. Vulnerable in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007).

Further work

Biology and numbers of this species needs investigation.

Sources

Type material: ?

Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0521, 7, ?-102.5 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River near Lulaman (no other locality data); CMNFI 1970-0525, 5, 111.9-133.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River near Mohsenabad (no other locality data); CMNFI 1970-0526, 19, ? mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River 6 km below Astaneh Bridge (37º19'N, 49º57'30"E); CMNFI 1970-0531, 1, 157.3 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Larim River (36º46'N, 52º58'E); CMNFI 1970-0536, 1, 194.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Siah River estuary near Rudbar (36º53'N, 49º32'E); CMNFI 1970-0538, 10, 36.7-188.5 mm standard length, Gilan, Qezel Owzan River near Manjil (36º44'N, 49º24'E); CMNFI 1970-0543A, 1, 170.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Caspian Sea at Hasan Kiadeh (37º24'N, 49º58'E); CMNFI 1970-0546, 10, 39.3-61.8 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River canal (no other locality data); CMNFI 1970-0553, 1, 58.1 mm standard length, Gilan, Sowsar Roga (37º27'N, 49º30'E); CMNFI 1970-0563, 1, 70.1 mm standard length, Gilan, Caspian Sea at Kazian Beach (ca. 37º29'N, ca. 49º29'E); CMNFI 1970-0568, 8, 62.5-132.0 mm standard length, Gilan, Caspian Sea at Kazian Beach (ca. 37º29'N, ca. 49º29'E); CMNFI 1970-0581, 6, 41.3-65.5 mm standard length, Gilan, Caspian Sea near Hasan Kiadeh (37º24'N, 49º58'E); CMNFI 1970-0587, 3, 69.0-91.4 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Babol River at Babol Sar (36º43'N, 52º39'E); CMNFI 1979-0431, 2, 240.9-265.5 mm standard length, Mazandaran, bazaar at Now Shahr (no other locality data); CMNFI 1979-0437, 1, ? mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River 2 km west of Astaneh (37º16'30"N, 49º56'E): CMNFI 1979-0452, 2, 53.5-56.5 mm standard length, Azarbaijan-e Khavari, Qezel Owzan River 6 km from Mianeh (37º23'N, 47º45'E); CMNFI 1979-0486, 2, 69.2-78.8 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Atrak River draiange (37º44'N, 56º18'E); CMNFI 1979-0488, 1, 95.8 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Atrak River at Maraveh Tappeh (37º55'N, 55º57'30'E); CMNFI 1979-0491, 1, 191.5 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Gorgan River 15 km northeast of Kalaleh (ca. 37º33'N, ca. 55º44'E); CMNFI 1979-0686, 19, ? mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River (37º24'N, 49º58'E): CMNFI 1979-0695, 4, ? mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Manjil Bridge (36º46'N, 49º24'E): CMNFI 1979-0788, 2, 152.0-202.4 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Gorgan River at Khadje Nafas (37º00'N, 54º07'E); CMNFI 1980-0116, 8, ?-62.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Astaneh Bridge (37º16'30"N, 49º56'E); CMNFI 1980-0123, 8, ? mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River (ca. 37º22'N, ca. 49º57'E): CMNFI 1980-0127, 1, ? mm standard length, Gilan, Caspian Sea near Hasan Kiadeh (37º24'N, 49º58'E): CMNFI 1980-0132, 8, ? mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Kisom (37º12'N, 49º54'E); CMNFI 1980-0138, 2, 132.5-137.6 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River estuary (ca. 37º28'N, ca. 49º54'E); CMNFI 1980-0905, 1, 188.9 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Gorgan River at Khadje Nafas (37º00'N, 54º07'E); CMNFI 1980-0908, 3, 67.2-91.3 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River estuary (ca. 37º28'N, ca. 49º54'E); uncatalogued, 2, 245.7-272.8 mm standard length, Markazi, Shah River (no other locality data);

Barbus esocinus
(Heckel, 1843)

Darreshahr, Simarreh River, April 1987,
photo by N. Atarody; courtesy of B. Kiabi

Kermanshah, Simarreh River,
courtesy of B. Kiabi

more photos

Common names

سونگ (= soong) or بچ ( = bach) in northern Khuzestan and Lorestan, anzeh, anzah, narbach, and anzeh-bach at Ahvaz and in southern Khuzestan (meanings unknown); بل زرد (= balzard).

[bizz (in Iraq), farkh-el-biz (= cheerful one (Heckel, 1843b) or baby of bizz), farch or mangar in Arabic; "Tigris salmon", "Euphrates salmon", pike barb, pike barbel].

Systematics

Howes (1987) places this species in Barbus sensu stricto. Labeobarbus Euphrati Sauvage, 1882 described from "Biredjik (Euphrates)", Turkey (not "Irak" as in Bertin and Estève (1948)) is a synonym.

Karaman (1971) places this species in the synonymy of Barbus xanthopterus as he considered the only difference to be scale count and the range of variation for these species is unknown. Almaça (1983, 1986) agrees that several meristic characters are similar while the main differences are a shorter head and barbels in esocinus and dotted coloration in esocinus as opposed to uniform in xanthopterus (isn't the reverse true?). He maintains them as separate species because information on variability in characters is lacking.

Examination of the types of B. esocinus (NMW 54088, 2, 58.5-61.5 mm standard length, 54091, 372.4 mm, 54092, 321.3 mm) and B. xanthopterus (NMW 54841a (a syntype), 216.5 mm, 54786 (not a type), 292.8 mm) in Vienna showed the following differences. Head size differs in the two taxa in that esocinus postorbital length is very elongate and the head tapers anteriorly in a distinctive fashion. Head length in standard length is 3.2-3.6, mean 3.4 for esocinus and 4.0-4.2, mean 4.1 for xanthopterus and postorbital length in standard length is 5.9-7.2, mean 6.5 for esocinus and 7.7-7.8, mean 7.8 for xanthopterus with the higher values for esocinus based on smaller fish which tend to have proportionately larger heads. Total gill raker counts are 8-10, mean 9.3 for esocinus and 12-13, mean 12.5 for xanthopterus. Larger esocinus appear to lose anterior rakers with age but still have fewer than xanthopterus of similar size. Lateral line scale counts are 63-70, mean 67.3 in esocinus and 57-60, mean 58.5 in xanthopterus. On this limited basis I am maintaining the two species as distinct. An Iranian specimen, 284.3 mm standard length (ZSM 21830 from the Dez River), falls within the ranges given above. see xanthopterus?

Almaça (1986) records syntypes of Luciobarbus esocinus in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien from the type locality as given by (Heckel, 1843b) "bei Mossul in Tigris", Iraq (NMW 54088 (2 specimens), NMW 54091 (1), and NMW 54092 (1) but Heckel (1843b) does not specify the number of types). A syntype is in the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt (SMF 454, formerly NMW; 281.2 mm standard length) and another syntype is also there but dried (SMF 6785, formerly NMW) (F. Krupp, pers. comm., 1985). The catalogue in Vienna lists 2 fish in spirits and 2 fish stuffed.

The mounted holotype of Labeobarbus euphrati is in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris (MNHN A.6961) and measures 1650 mm total length (Bertin and Estève, 1948). Eschmeyer et al. (1996) indicate that the catalogue number may be A.6971.

Key characters

This species is characterised by large size, a long, tapering and depressed head (rather pike-like in shape), two pairs of barbels, a serrated dorsal fin spine, lateral line scale count high (63-78), moderately developed lips, and no large flank spots. Head length in standard length 3.1-3.7, mean ? and postorbital length in standard length 5.9-7.2, mean ? for ? specimens ?-? mm standard length including the types listed above. (includes SMF454 281.2 mm SL, HL 75.6, postorb 44.1, snout 21.5

Morphology

Dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 8 branched rays, anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5 branched rays, pectoral fin with 16-18 branched rays and pelvic fin with 8 branched rays. Lateral line scales 62-78. Scales are regularly arranged, the smallest being on the isthmus anterior to the pectoral fin bases. There is a pelvic axillary scale. Scales have a central focus, numerous fine circuli, a wavy or rounded anterior margin, and radii on the anterior and posterior fields with a few widely spaced ones on the lateral fields. Gill rakers 8-12, well spaced and just touching the one below when appressed. Pharyngeal teeth 2,3,5-5,3,2, hooked with the third tooth of the inner row slightly larger than the fourth and the fifth smaller. Heckel (1843b) gives 2,3,4-4,3,2, and teeth from large specimens seen at Ahvaz in 1995 by me had 2,3,4-4,3,2 and 2,3,5-4,3,2, the anteriormost tooth being small or absent. Even small specimens (85.7 mm standard length) may have the anteriormost tooth absent. Total vertebrae 48 (Howes, 1987) or 48-50 based on comparative materials listed below. The last unbranched dorsal fin ray is very strong, with a low density of denticles but with fine denticles extending over much of the ray. The mouth is large, terminal and almost horizontal and extends back to the anterior eye margin. Lips are thin to moderate without a median lobe to the interrupted lower lip, and barbels are thin to very thin. The anterior barbel does not reach past the nostril level and the posterior barbel does not pass the mid-eye to rear eye level. The nostril is elongate and closer to the eye than the snout tip. The cephalic canals on the suborbital series have numerous branches. The gut is an elongate s-shape with several anterior loops.

Meristics for an Iranian specimen:- dorsal fin branched rays 8; anal fin branched rays 5; pectoral fin branched rays 17; pelvic fin branched rays 8; lateral line scales 69; and total gill rakers 9.

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown.

Colour

The back has numerous scattered, black spots on an olivaceous background, the spots extending onto the base of the dorsal fin. Spots may be weak or absent but this is comparatively rare. Overall colour is silvery with the anal and caudal fins dark red. The flanks and belly are lighter. The eye is yellowish in colour. Young fish have a yellow tinge or sulphur yellow colour to the fins.

Size

Frequently up to 3 hundredweights (= 152.4 kg) in the Zab River of Iraq southeast of Mosul (Heckel, 1846-1849a); a fish 6'4" (1.93 m) long with a girth of 3'10" (1.17 m) and a weight of 215 lbs (97.6 kg) from the Euphrates River at Hakika (Light, 1917; wrongly identified as Barbus scheich according to the editors in an article by Gudger (1945a)); 69 inches (1.75 m) measured over the curve of a back with a 38 inch (0.97 m) girth and a weight of 123 lbs (55.8 kg) caught in the Diyala River, Iraq on a light 14-foot rod taking 1½ hours to land (Bagnall, 1919); 96 lb (43.6 kg) fish caught near Kizil Robat (= As Sa`diyah) in the Diyala River on a lump of atta (a ball of dough)(MacKay, 1919)(Bagnall, a Major, out-doing MacKay, a Brigadier-General); 140 lbs (63.6 kg) Tigris salmon caught on a 2" spoon at Samarra (Lane, 1920); hundreds of good weight up to 112 lbs (50.8 kg), one caught on a hand-line at 170 lbs (77.2 kg), one netted at 252 lbs (114.4 kg), and reputedly over 300 lbs (136 kg)(Radcliffe, 1926); up to two yards (1.83 m) as evidenced by a photograph of a specimen draped over a donkey in Iraqi Kurdistan (Hamilton, 1937); 2 m and 150 kg in Iraq (van den Eelaart, 1954; Herzog, 1967); a 167 lb (75.8 kg) Tigris specimen and a 213 lb (96.7 kg) specimen at Nassiriyah on the Euphrates, called both gattan and "Euphrates salmon" but it was presumably the latter (Vesey-Fitzgerald and Lamonte (no date)); weights up to 300 lbs (136 kg) and the largest taken on rod-and-line as 220 lb (100 kg) and 7 feet (2.1 m), baits used included atta and dates, and chicken or sheep liver (Mahdi, 1962). Beck (pers. comm., 2000) reports the largest fish seen in the 1990s along the Syrian Euphrates and its tributaries weighed 198 kg. A fish caught in 2001 on the Euphrates River near Birecik in Turkey with a net weighed 111 kg and was 2.4 m long (www.fishing-worldrecords.com, downloaded 16 February 2007).

Iranian records of large specimens include one by Mr. Chabok-Savar, a Game Warden or biologist of the Department of the Environment who caught a specimen about 80 kg in the Simareh River in 1973 and N. Atarody, also a Game Warden or biologist, caught two large specimens in April 1987 from "Tang-e Gheer" on the Simareh near Darreh Shahr (Abzeeyan, Tehran, 3 (August-September):19, 1992). A 1.65 m and 75 kg specimen is reported from the Dez River and a 2.1 m specimen is reported from the market at Ahvaz in 1993 (this last fish may have weighed 150 kg, original report not seen; J. Valiallahi, pers. comm., 2001). The Gav Masiab, a river in Kordestan, is reputedly named for these large fishes ("river with fishes as large as a cow")(J. Valiallahi, www.modares.ac.ir, downloaded 4 July 2000). Floor (2003) gives a photograph of a large specimen from the Karun River.

Distribution

This species is found in the Tigris-Euphrates basin including its Iranian portion and the adjacent northern Gulf basin (Marammzai, 1995; Abdoli, 2000). It is reported as common in the Dez Dam (Gh. Eskandary, pers comm., 2000).

Zoogeography

Almaça (1984b, 1991) considers that the origin of this species lies with a group that migrated southwards in the late Pliocene from the Dacian Lake of the Sarmatian Sea and speciated in Mesopotamia.

Habitat

Found in large rivers and dams but also the more limited environment of palace ponds at Baghdad. Details of environmental requirements unknown.

Age and growth

Life span is at least 10 years (Ahmed, 1982). Fish in Khuzestan were found to have a sex ratio of 4.2:1.0 male:female (Gh. Eskandary, pers. comm., 2000; Eskandari et al., 2004). In the Dez Dam of northern Khuzestan females had a length range of 156-1350 mm and a weight range of 31.7-26,500 g while for males figures were 183-1065 mm and 48-12,208 g. Males matured faster than females, annual growth is slow and asymptotic length is more than 2 m. It appears to have a longer reproductive life compared to pre-maturation life (Eskandari et al., 2004).

Food

This species is a predator on other fishes. In the Dez Dam, all samples had fish in their stomachs although the gut to body length ratio indicates omnivory (Eskandari et al., 2004).

Reproduction

van den Eelaart (1954) reports spawning in Iraq in March. Eggs are laid between large stones in the deep part of rivers in March or April. Some fingerlings drift down into lakes and marshes. Eskandari et al. (2004) report a very short spawning season in the Dez Dam in spring after reservoir water levels rise through spring flooding. The fish is a total spawner with eggs released in upstream areas and shallows of the reservoir over gravel at 24ºC.

Parasites and predators

None reported from Iran.

Economic importance

In Iraqi Kurdistan these fish were caught and tethered by a cord passed through the lips until eaten by the villagers (Elliot, 1977). At Altan Keupri on the Lesser Zab River in Iraq a drugged bait was used to stupefy the fish so it could be netted and dragged to shore (Hamilton, 1937).

This species was being considered for aquaculture during the year 2000 in Khuzestan although fish larger than 1 m are needed to be ripe adults. Anglers and commercial fishermen seek this fish in the Iranian Zagros Mountains using ducklings (!) as bait (J. Valiallahi, pers. comm., 2001).

Robins et al. (1991) list this species as important to North Americans. Importance is based on its use in textbooks.

Conservation

This species is under severe threat in the Syria Euphrates and its tributaries. A survey in 1997-1998 caught only a single juvenile and the commercial fisheries had not more than two dozen fish. Blast fishing and poisoning had led to a decline in age of catches since 1993. Large scale water abstraction, dam building and pollution had destroyed habitats (R. Beck, pers. comm., 2000). It is listed by Stone (2007) as one of the world's largest freshwater fishes, presumed to be threatened.

A report of fish kill, presumably of this species, in the "Cham Ghorah" River near Mahabad in July 1999 numbering about half a million fish was owing to desiccation of the habitat (J. Valiallahi, www.modares.ac.ir, downloaded 4 July 2000).

Further work

Distribution and numbers are needed for a conservation assessment.

Sources

Type material: See above, NMW 54088.

Iranian material: ZSM 21830, 1, 284.3 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Dez River at Harmaleh (31º57'N, 48º34'E). Some specimens observed in the IFRTO laboratory at Ahvaz (pharyngeal arches).

Comparative material: BM(NH) 1892.9.1:30, 1, 197.3 mm standard length, Iraq, Al Faw (29º58'N, 48º29'E); BM(NH) 1920.3.3:80-82, 3, 85.7-147.0 mm standard length, Iraq, Basrah (30º30'N, 47º47'E); BM(NH) 1931.8.12:5, 1, 111.8 mm standard length, Iraq, near Mosul (no other locality data); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1297, 1, 166.5 mm standard length, Iraq, Diyala River (no other locality data); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1810, 1, 220.1 mm standard length, Iraq, ?;

Barbus grypus
Heckel, 1843

Above photographs showing fleshy lips courtesy of Atabak Mahjoor Azad

Common names

شيربت (= shirbot, shirbod or shilbot), shaboot, سس ماهي (= sos or sas mahi), rumi, shebhe shirbot, سرخه (sorkheh, meaning= reddish, a local name in the Zohreh River - J. Gh. Marammazi, pers. comm., 1995), rumi (not heard of in Khuzestan).

[shabout or hamrawi in Arabic; large scaled barb, Tigris barbel].

Systematics

Howes (1987) places this species outside the genus Barbus sensu stricto as defined by him because it has the non-elongate lachrymal bone with a sensory canal running along the antero-dorsal border, a derived condition. Karaman (1971) and Ekmekçi and Banarescu (1998) placed it in the genus Tor (see above and below) and it may belong in Naziritor Mirza and Javed, 1985 (M. R. Mirza, pers. comm., 6 December 2003). Al-Hassan (1984) looked at several Barbus species and found the electropherogram of this species to be distinctive, perhaps indicating that molecular studies could resolve the relationships of this species. This distinction was reiterated by Jawad (2003).

The type locality of Barbus Grypus is "Tigris bei Mossul" (Heckel, 1843b) and Krupp (1985c) records a syntype (dried) from the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (formerly NMW) now in the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt under SMF 2613, 375 mm standard length. One syntype is in the Museum für Naturkunde, Universität Humboldt, Berlin (ZMB 8788, not located February 2006). One syntype is in Vienna under NMW 54160, 2 are under NMW 54161 (280.9-318.9 mm total length as measured by me), and 1 is under NMW 91023 (Eschmeyer et al., 1996). The catalogue in Vienna lists 3 fish in spirits and 2 fish stuffed.

Labeobarbus Kotschyi Heckel, 1843 described from the "Tigris bei Mossul" is a synonym. Krupp (1985c) records a syntype from the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien under NMW 49729, Th. Kotschy (188.8 mm standard length as measured by me). A dried specimen (NMW 59462) is also a syntype. Eschmeyer et al. (1996) also lists another syntype, NMW 91022. The catalogue in Vienna lists 1 fish in spirits and 2 fish stuffed.

Key characters

This species is identified by having two pairs of barbels, a strong, smooth spine in the dorsal fin, and less than 44 scales in the lateral line.

Morphology

The forehead is more rounded than in type material of kotschyi, although kotschyi types are smaller than grypus types which may account for this distinction. The mouth is inferior, horseshoe-shaped and has fleshy lips. The median lobe of the lower lip is well-developed in some individuals (such specimens were described as kotschyi - this form is rare in Khuzestan according to N. Najafpour, pers. comm., 1995) and intermediates can be seen) but not in others (grypus) (Karaman, 1971). The median lobe may extend back almost as far as the level of the rear margin of the lower lip or be distinctive with free lateral and rear margins but only extend back one third of this distance. The much fleshier lip structure in kotschyi (the upper lip can be reflexed for example) may be a form of hypertrophy seen in other cyprinid fishes. The last unbranched dorsal fin ray is smooth and spine-like, with sharp edges but no serrations although serrations are weakly developed in young fish. Barbels are about equal in length. The gut has two anterior and two posterior loops.

Dorsal fin unbranched rays 4, branched rays 7-9, usually 8, anal fin unbranched rays 3, branched rays 5, pectoral fin branched rays 14-18 (including counts from Jawad (1975)), and pelvic fin branched rays 7-8, usually 8. Total gill rakers 16-22 (including counts by Jawad (1975)). Krupp (1985c) cites 13-17 gill rakers, presumably lower arch ones only. Gill rakers reach the second raker below or beyond when appressed, with large tubercles or branches on the inner surface in 2 rows alternating left and right. Lateral line scales 32-43. A pelvic axillary scale is present. Scales have a subcentral anterior, almost central, focus, numerous fine circuli and many radii on all fields with the exposed part of the scale tubercular. Pharyngeal teeth 2,3,4-4,3,2 in the literature, but see below, anterior teeth rounded, the most anterior one small and blunt, posterior ones spatulate with hooked tips. Total vertebrae 44-47 (Howes, 1987), 43-45 (Jawad, 1975) or 47(8), 48(7), 49(5) or 50(1) in fish seen by me (BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1283-1284, 1299-1315, 1317, 1323; 1920.3.3:1-18, 1874.4.28:24-6).

Ali et al. (1981) found differences in morphology for fish from Al-Therthar Reservoir and the Tigris River in Iraq, not by locality but by habitat type.

Iranian specimens have the following meristic data: dorsal fin branched rays 7(1), 8(20) or 9(1); anal fin branched rays 5(22); pectoral fin branched rays 15(2), 16(15), 17(4) or 18(1), and pelvic fin branched rays 7(1) or 8(21). Lateral line scales 32(4), 33(4), 34(4), 35(3), 36(3) or 37(3). Total gill rakers 16(4), 17(2), 18(3), 19(6), 20(4) or 21(2), with some evidence of higher counts in larger fish. Pharyngeal teeth usually 2,3,5-5,3,2(14) with variants 2,3,5-4,3,2(2), 2,3,4-5,3,2(2), 2,2,5-5,3,2(1) and 1,2,5-4,3,2(1), in contrast to literature reports of 4 main row teeth being typical.

Sexual dimorphism

Ali et al. (1981) found no sexual dimorphism in their Iraqi samples.

Colour

Overall colour has a pale rose to light orange effect, usually without other markings. The back is a dark olive-brown to blackish-green with the flanks pale rose, light orange to yellowish to silvery and belly silvery to milk-white. There may be an indistinct stripe along the mid-flank. Large fish have the upper flank darkened from the overall orange colour of the mid-flank and the lower flank scales are rimmed in white so they stand out. Lips are pale red. The operculum is golden. The pectoral, pelvic, anal and caudal fins are bright orange or pink at the base (perhaps white after preservation), distally blackish. Pectoral and pelvic fins may be dark overall with a reddish to reddish-brown tinge, and the leading edge of the pelvic fin pink. The anal fin may be a bluish-black distally. In some fish the caudal fin is black proximally and reddish distally. In large fish the pectoral, pelvic, anal and caudal are progressively darker in this order. The anal and pelvic fins, the pectoral fins less so, may be heavily pigmented with melanophores on rays and membranes so as to appear black in preserved fish. The dorsal fin is hyaline. The eye rim is yellow-green to lime-green. Young fish may have some scales darkened, giving a mottled effect and are more silvery on the flank than large fish. Their pectoral and pelvic fins are more orange and the anal and caudal fins are only slightly tinged with colour. The caudal fin carries a lot of grey. The smallest fish have a very faint fin colouration. Peritoneum black.

Size

Attains 96.0 cm and 9.7 kg in Dukan Reservoir, Iraq (Al-Hakim et al., 1981). Gruvel (1931) cited 1.5 m and 30 kg for Syria. Banister (1980) gives nearly 2 m and 100 kg but this may be confusion with B. esocinus although Krupp (1992) also cites almost 2 m. Reputedly reaches 60 kg in Lorestan (S. Nazeeri, pers. comm., 2000) and Ghofleh Marammazi (2004) found fish up to 20 kg in Khuzestan. Specimens reach 3 kg even in the small canals of the sugar-cane fields of Khuzestan.

Distribution

This species is found in the Tigris-Euphrates basin and the Orontes River basin. In Iran it is found in the Tigris River basin up to the Simarreh including marshes such as the Hawr Al Azim, in the Gulf basin in the Zohreh, Shapur, Helleh, Dalaki, Dasht-e Palang, Shur, Dozgah and Mand rivers and Lake Famur (= Perishan), although rare in the latter, and in the Hormozgan basin in the Hasan Langi and Kul rivers (Berg, 1949; Gh. Izadpanahi, pers. comm., 1995; Marammazi, 1995; M. Rabbaniha, pers. comm., 1995; Maafi, 1996b; H. R. Alizadeh, pers comm., 2000; Abdoli, 2000).

Zoogeography

Karaman (1971) considers this species to have an Indian line of descent, placing it in the genus Tor which most subsequent authors restrict to the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia.

Habitat

van den Eelaart (1954) and Al-Hamed (1966b; 1972) describe the habitat for this species in the Tigris River as distributed throughout the river and its tributaries. It is a strong swimmer. Mature fish move upstream to the spawning grounds and spent fish descend to their original habitat. In summer under low water level conditions and high temperatures, the smaller fish remain in the lower reaches of rivers but the larger fish migrate up rivers and tributaries, returning in September and October when temperatures fall. This species may enter marshes on floods, favouring areas where there is fresh river water, but returns to rivers as it requires a higher oxygen concentration than most marsh residents. Heydarpour (1978) gives a temperature range of 9-31ºC for this species under culture conditions in Khuzestan.

Marammazi (1994) considers this species to be versatile in its habitats in the Zohreh River which drains to the northern Persian Gulf. It was found throughout the river in contrast to Barbus sharpeyi which, being stenohaline, was restricted in its distribution. The form with a well-developed median lobe is said to occur in rocky habitats. This species is considered to be the dominant fish in the Karun and Zohreh rivers (Annual Report, 1994-1995, Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization, Tehran, p. 48, 1996; Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization Newsletter, 17:1, 1997). Ghofleh Marammazi (2004) found it in almost all water bodies in Khuzestan where it occurred under a wide range of temperatures and salinities. However its presence on the Khuzestan plain was for feeding while for reproduction it required more northerly areas with sandy or gravel substrates, high water flow, low temperatures and high oxygen content (Ghofleh Marammazi, 2000).

Age and growth

Al-Hakim et al. (1976) studied some aspects of the biology of this species in Razzaza Lake, Iraq. Males are longer than females before maturation and shorter thereafter. Females reach 13 years and males 8 years of age and fish mature at 45-48 cm total length in their fifth year. Males mature earlier than females. Ali et al. (1981) found this species to mature at 3-5 years of age and 40-50 cm in the Al-Therthar Reservoir (about 65 km northwest of Baghdad) and the Tigris River (Kut Dam) in Iraq. Jiad et al. (1984) studied this species in the Al-Hindiya Dam in Iraq and found similar results to the studies cited above.

Al-Hakim et al. (1981) studied this species in the Dukan Reservoir, west of Sulaimaniyah, Iraq. Life span is 17 years for females and 11 years for males. Growth slows with age, and especially after maturity, and is fastest in the first year of life. 30% of males mature at age group 3 (39 cm) and all were mature at age group 6 (48 cm). Al-Hamed (1966a; 1966b; 1972) working with Tigris River populations in Iraq, found males to mature at about 45 cm and females at about 50 cm, with most fish mature in their fourth year and spawning at the beginning of their fifth year of life. Some fish mature in age group 3 and some as late as age group 5. Maximum age observed was 12 years. Males outnumber females, being two thirds of the fish on the spawning grounds. Al-Hakim et al. (1981) found all females are mature at 51 cm (age group 7) but only 10% at 42 cm. Males mature earlier than females and may grow faster and die younger.

Ali et al. (1981) found growth to be better in fish from Al-Therthar Reservoir compared to those from the Tigris River in Iraq. The fishing methods used, both commercially and experimentally, caught mature fish of 40-50 cm and 3-5 years of age.

Growth in a polluted section of the Diyala River, Iraq is poor compared to other populations (Khalaf et al., 1984; Khalaf et al., 1985).

Food

Al-Hamed (1965) found this species to be a herbivore taking filamentous algae and higher plant parts. Incidental food items taken while feeding on plants include fish tissue and scales. Fallen ripe fruits from trees overhanging the water are also consumed as are cereal grains from loading docks. It may also take some small fishes. Iranian specimens contain filamentous algae, plant fragments and associated invertebrates. Ghofleh Marammazi (2000) considers it to be an omnivore.

Reproduction

In Dukan Reservoir, Iraq spawning takes place from the beginning of May until the end of June. van den Eelaart (1954) and Al-Hamed (1966b; 1972) studied the reproduction of this species in Iraq. Eggs are deposited on fine gravels overlying a layer of coarse sand in shallow, wide holes. Water depth varies from 30 to 150 cm. Egg diameter is 1.5 mm and fecundity up to 147,000. The spawning season on the Tigris River between Beled and Tigrit is late May to late June after an upriver migration in April. Fish appear on the spawning grounds in schools just before dark and remain there until shortly before midnight, making loud noises by splashing, jumping and chasing. After spawning, the fish return downriver but do not enter marshes as these are now too warm.

Its presence in areas of the Khuzestan plain is mainly for feeding while reproduction occurs in the northern parts of this province where there are sandy and gravel substrates, fast current, low temperatures and high oxygen content (Ghofleh Marammazi, 2004).

Parasites and predators

Bykhovski (1949) report a new species of monogenetic trematode, Dactylogyrus pavlovskyi, from this species in the Karkheh River, Iran. Molnár and Jalali (1992) describe a new species of monogenean, Dogielius persicus, from this species in the Dez and Karun rivers of Khuzestan. Masoumian et al. (1994) describe two new species of Myxosporea from the gills of this species in the Karun River, Khuzestan, namely Myxobolus karuni and Myxobolus persicus. Molnár et al. (1996) report additional new species from this fish in Khuzestan, namely Myxobolus iranicus in the spleen and Myxobolus mesopotamiae in connective tissue of the caudal and pectoral fins. The latter myxosporean is also reported from Barbus rajanorum as is a new species Myxobolus shadgani infecting the gills - the identity of the host fish is unknown as Barbus rajanorum is not a distinct species (see under Barbus pectoralis). Myxosporeans are potentially dangerous to fishes such as Barbus grypus which may be used in fish culture in Khuzestan.

The monogeneans Dactylogyrus povlovskyi, D. barbioides, Dogielius persicus, Gyrodactylus sprostonae and Paradiplozoon sp. are recorded from this species in the Karun River with heavier infestations in spring and summer than in autumn and winter. These gill parasites caused no serious injuries but were thought to be important in respect of monitoring infestation levels on fish farms in Khuzestan (www.avz1.8m.com/fulltext.htm, downloaded 28 October 2002).

Ebrahimzadeh and Nabawi (1975) list a nematode species Philometra and Ascaridae from this species in the Karun River. Ebrahimzadeh and Kailani (1976) record parasites in the genera Myxosoma (protozoan) and Isoglaridacris (cestode) and also a nematode from Barbus grypus taken in the Karun River.

Masoumian and Pazooki (1999) list Myxobolus persicus, M. karuni, M. mesopotamiae and M. iranicus from this species in various localities in Khuzestan. Moghainemi and Abbasi (1992) record a wide range of parasites from this species in the Hawr al-Azim in Khuzestan. Farahnak et al. (2002) record Contracaecum sp. and Anisakis sp. from this fish in Khuzestan Province.

Papahn et al. (2004) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus pavlovskyi, D. barbioides, Dogielius persicus, Gyrodactylus sprostonae and Paradiplozoon sp. from this species in the Karun River at Ahvaz, the latter two being first records for the host in Iran.

Economic importance

An important food fish, comprising 23% of the total fish production in Iraq for example and forming the most important commercial fish there (Al-Hakim et al., 1981). Petr (1987) reports the catch for all Iraq in 1976 as 519 t. The weight at the Basrah fish market from October 1975 to June 1977 was only 3,330 kg however (Sharma, 1980) and Khalaf et al. (1984) rank it third in the inland wholesale trade of Iraq for the period 1967-1970.

This species is the preferred catch of anglers at Ahvaz in Khuzestan, with bread or potato as bait. There is a good demand for this species in local markets of Khuzestan (Ghofleh Marammazi, 2004).

Petr (1987) has suggested that this species be investigated for fish farming in Khuzestan. The Khuzestan Fisheries Research Centre at Ahvaz has experimented with this species in pond culture (Emadi, 1993a; Annual Report, 1994-1995, Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization, Tehran, p. 6, 1996).

Conservation

The stock of this species in the Gav Masiab River is severely reduced and only 3 fish were caught in western Iran in the Zagros rivers during a 4-year survey (J. Valiallahi, www.modares.ac.ir, downloaded 4 July 2000; pers. comm., 2001). Shirbot were considered to be on the verge of extinction in the Gav Masiab River of the Tigris River basin, through pollution, overfishing, dam building, aquaculture, and introduction of exotics (IranMania.com, 29 December 2006). Probably in decline in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007).

Further work

The biology of this species in Iran needs investigation as does its putative relationship to South Asian fishes in the genus Tor.

Sources

Type material: See above, Barbus grypus (NMW 54161) and Labeobarbus kotschyi (NMW 49729).

Iranian material: CMNFI 1979-0155, 1, 42.8 mm standard length, Fars, spring at Gavanoo (28º47'N, 54º22'E); CMNFI 1979-0291, 1, 31.4 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Diyala River drainage (34º24'N, 45º37'E); CMNFI 1979-0356, 5, 22.5-40.7 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Karkheh River drainage at Hoveyzeh (31º27'N, 48º04'E); CMNFI 1979-0360, 1, 375.5 mm standard length, Khuzestan, canal branch of Karkheh River (31º40'N, 48º35'E); CMNFI 1979-0364, 1, 22.3 mm standard length, Khuzestan, river at Abdolkhan (31º52'30"N, 48º20'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0384, 2, 202.2-222.2 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Ab-e Shur drainage (32º00'N, 49º07'E); CMNFI 1979-0391, 1, 220.5 mm standard length, Khuzestan, stream in Marun River drainage (31º28'N, 49º51'E); CMNFI 1979-0392, 1, 62.4 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Zard River (ca. 31º32'N, ca. 49º48'E); CMNFI 1979-0395, 2, 32.7-38.0 mm standard length, Khuzestan, stream in Marun River drainage (ca. 30º57'N, ca. 49º51'E); CMNFI 1979-0402, 1, 80.7 mm standard length, Bushehr, Mand River 12 km north of Kaki (ca. 28º25'N, ca. 51º32'E); CMNFI 1991-0153, 1, 253.5 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Zohreh River (no other locality data); CMNFI 1993-0141, 1, 80.2 mm standard length, Bushehr, Dalaki River (29º28'N, 51º15'E); CMNFI 1995-009A, 4, Khuzestan, A'la River at Pol-e Tighen (31º23'30"N, 49º53'E); BM(NH) 1980.8.28:7, 1, 72.0 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Dezful (32º23'N, 48º24'E); ZMH 2508, 1, 343.3 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Karun River at Ahvaz (31º19'N, 48º42'E); ZSM 21864, 1, 157.7 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Dez River at Harmaleh (31º57'N, 48º34'E);

Comparative material:- BM(NH) 1874.4.28:24-26, 3, 231.2-254.7 mm standard length, Iraq, Tigris River at Baghdad (33º21'N, 44º25'E); BM(NH) 1920.3.3:1-18, 5, 104.8-196.0 mm standard length, ?; BM(NH) 1973.5.21:191, 1, 205.4 mm standard length, Iraq, Shatt-al-Arab; BM(NH) 1973.5.21:192, 1, 139.5 mm standard length, Iraq, Shatt-al-Arab; BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1283-1284; BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1299-1315, 9, 64.9-101.5 mm standard length, ?; BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1317, ?; BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1323, ?; BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1328(?3), 1, 161.9 mm standard length, Iraq, Basrah (30º30'N, 47º47'E); KU 10516, 1, 124.1 mm standard length, Iraq, Basrah (30º30'N, 47º47'E).

Barbus kersin
Heckel, 1843

Common names

برزم (= berzem).

[shissan, jassan, gassan, djissan, barsam or bunni, kersin at Aleppo, all in Arabic; kersin barbel].

Systematics

Karaman (1971) places this species as a synonym of his Barbus capito pectoralis. Almaça (1983) suggests that kersin may be only subspecifically distinct from Barbus pectoralis (q.v.) but later (Almaça, 1984b) retains it as a full species until further information becomes available. Krupp (1985c) also synonymises this species with Barbus pectoralis.

Syntypes of Barbus Kersin from "Aleppo", the type locality given by Heckel (1843b) or "Gewässern von Aleppo" (Heckel, 1846-1849a), are in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NMW 54212 and 54215) (Almaça, 1986). Krupp (1985c) lists the following syntypes of B. kersin all from Aleppo and collected by Th. Kotschy: 1 specimen, 141.2 mm standard length as measured by me (NMW 54212), 4, 89.1-135.1 mm standard length as measured by me (NMW 54213), 1, 166.0 mm standard length as measured by me (NMW 54215) and 1, 152 mm standard length (formerly NMW, now in the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt as SMF 610). The card catalogue in 1997 listed NMW 54215 as "? lectotype" and NMW 54213 as "? paralectoptypes" (sic). Eschmeyer et al. (1996) list 1 syntype in the Museum für Naturkunde, Universität Humboldt, Berlin (ZMB 3237, formerly NMW). The catalogue in Vienna lists 6 specimens.

Key characters

This species differs from the similar B. pectoralis by the smaller scales and body depth being greater than head length (equal in pectoralis) (Berg, 1949). ?see BWC95-32 for a kersin after Valiallahi, its a dark Barbus without the very large D spine and a different colour pattern

Morphology

Dorsal fin unbranched rays 3-4, usually 4, branched rays 7-8, anal fin with 3 branched and 5-6, usually 5, unbranched rays. Pectoral fin branched rays 17, pelvic fin rays 8. Lateral line scales 49-58. Gill rakers 19. Pharyngeal teeth 2,3,5-5,3,2. The last unbranched dorsal fin ray is strong (as in pectoralis)with a low density of coarse denticles extending over much of the ray. The mouth is moderate in size and subterminal. The highly rounded snout projects a little. Lips are thin to moderate but not fleshy and lack a median lobe. The upper lip is covered partly by the snout. Barbels are thin, the anterior barbel not extending back beyond the anterior eye margin and the posterior barbel not beyond the middle of the eye. Body depth is equal to or greater than head length in the types examined by me.

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown.

Colour

The body lacks distinctive markings and is olive to reddish-brown above, silvery on the flanks and white below. The dorsal and caudal fins have a blackish margin.

Size

Attains 70.1 cm total length (Menon, 1956). Reaches 2 m and over 100 kg (Khalaf, 1961).

Distribution

Found in the Tigris-Euphrates, Quwayq and Orontes River basins. In Iran, it is found in the Tigris River basin in the Karun and Karkheh rivers, and the northern Gulf basin in the Zohreh and Helleh rivers and questionably the southern Gulf basin (Abdoli, 2000).

Zoogeography

Almaça (1984b, 1991) considers that the origin of this species lies with a group that migrated southwards in the late Pliocene from the Dacian Lake of the Sarmatian Sea and speciated in Mesopotamia.

Habitat

The main habitat of Iraqi fish is rivers, entering marshes and lakes during floods but returning to rivers in June (van den Eelaart, 1954).

Age and growth

Unknown.

Food

This species is said to eat a wide range of food items (Beckman, 1962).

Reproduction

Eggs are deposited on clay or gravel bottoms during mid-February to early March (van den Eelaart, 1954).

Parasites and predators

Gussev et al. (1993a) describe new species of monogeneans from this species in the Dez River, Khuzestan, namely Dactylogyrus deziensis, D. deziensioides and D. kersini. Ebrahimzadeh and Kailani (1976) record parasite species in the cestode genera Caryophyllaeus and Isoglaridacris and the protozoan Myxosoma from Barbus kersin taken in the Karun River.

Economic importance

None.

Conservation

Endangered in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007) but status in Iran unknown.

Further work

The biology of this species in Iran needs study and a molecular comparison with putative synonyms would be of value in clarifying distinctiveness.

Sources

Type material: See above, NMW 54212, NMW 54213 and NMW 54215.

Iranian material: None.

Comparative material: BM(NH)1974.2.22:1324, 186.2 mm standard length (); BM(NH)1920.3.3:41-50, 12(5 examined), 110.9-165.3 mm standard length (); BM(NH)1920.3.3:31-40, 10, 141.7-310.9 mm standard length ();

Barbus kosswigi
(Ladiges, 1960)

Common names

ابوحنج (abu henej or abu hanaj= father of the hook or spine; possibly abu hanash or abu henesh, father of the snake), shebeh shirbot.

[Kosswig's barbel].

Systematics

This species was described as Cyclocheilichthys kosswigi Ladiges, 1960 from the "Batman suyu" (the holotype is possibly a female, 162.7 mm, Turkey, Siirt Province, Batman suyu (the Batman stream enters the Tigris River at 37°47.30"N, 41°00'E near Batman), April 1939, C. Kosswig). The holotype is in the Zoologischen Instituts und Zoologischen Museums der Universität Hamburg (ZMH H1148). The genus Cyclocheilichthys Bleeker, 1860 is found only in Southeast Asia.

A new and monotypic genus, Kosswigobarbus, was erected for this species by Karaman (1971) but this was synonymised with Barbus by Coad (1982f). However Bănărescu (1997) and Ekmekçi and Banarescu (1998) consider Kosswigobarbus to be valid. Borkenhagen (2005) considers that kosswigi and sublimus should be placed in Barbus (Carasobarbus) or Carasobarbus, favouring treating Carasobarbus as a subgenus until Barbus is revised thoroughly. Karaman (1971) distinguished the genus on the basis of the fin ray characters, a well-developed rostral flap, numerous fine pores on the head, and a large lachrymal bone. These characters are found in other Barbus species in Southwest Asia and the whole complex of large-scaled Barbus requires a detailed revision (see also under Barbus luteus and B. sublimus).

The relationships of this species appear to lie with other Southwest Asian species in the catchall genus Barbus which possess a compressed body, large scales with counts of 38 or less in the lateral line, a smooth dorsal fin spine, 9 or more branched dorsal fin rays and 6 anal fin branched rays such as Barbus apoensis Banister and Clarke, 1977, B. exulatus Banister and Clarke, 1977 (both in Southwest Arabia), B. chantrei (Sauvage, 1882) and B. canis Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1842 (both from the Levant), B. luteus (Heckel, 1843) from the Tigris-Euphrates and neighbouring basins, and B. sublimus Coad and Najafpour, 1997 from Khuzestan in the Tigris-Euphrates basin of Iran. A systematic revision of these species and potential African, European and Asian relatives may demonstrate that generic distinctions are warranted. Kosswigobarbus would then encompass B. kosswigi and presumably B. sublimus. Borkenhagen (2005) regards these species as a monophyletic group characterised by 6 branched anal fin rays, smooth and ossified last unbranched dorsal fin ray, modally 10 branched dorsal fin rays, less than 40 scales in the lateral line, medium body size, large, round to shield-shaped scales with numerous parallel radii, pharyngeal teeth usually 2,3,5-5,3,2, gill rakers short, stout and slightly curved, and barbels short.

Key characters

This species is characterised by having two pairs of thin barbels, 6 branched anal fin rays, the last unbranched dorsal fin ray strong and sharp-edged but smooth, 9-11 branched dorsal fin rays, large scales (38 or less in the lateral line), and a deep and compressed body.

Morphology

The rostral flap shows variable development, sometimes overlapping the upper lip to become visible in ventral view and other times not so well developed. Lips are thick, continuous and fleshy and there is a large median lobe to the lower lip. The mouth is small, ventral and u-shaped. The dorsal fin origin lies over or slightly in advance of the pelvic fin origin. The dorsal fin margin is strongly concave and the last unbranched dorsal fin ray is a strong spine without teeth. The caudal fin is deeply forked. The anal fin is long and may overlap the caudal fin base.

Scales are regularly arranged over the body. A low sheath of scales is found at the base of the anal and dorsal fins, being most evident anteriorly, and enclosing the anal papilla. There is a pelvic axillary scale. Anterior scale radii are few (5-11 in five scales from one specimen 126.6 mm SL) while posterior radii are numerous (35-40). There is a scaled keel or ridge before the dorsal fin as the back narrows dorsally. Pharyngeal tooth formulae 2,3,5-5,3,2, 2,3,5-4,3,2, 2,3,4-5,3,2 and 2,3,4-4,3,2. The teeth are quite small even in the largest specimens. Teeth are hooked at the tip and strongly recurved there, teeth are conical and have a small, concave to irregular or even rounded grinding surface below the tip. The fifth and most anterior tooth in the main row is small to minute in most fish and may be absent but this is not size related as both large and small specimens have or lack this tooth. The gut is elongate and coiled.

Meristic data from Iranian and other Tigris-Euphrates specimens: dorsal fin branched rays 9(5), 10(34), 11(1), mean 9.9 after 4 unbranched rays; anal fin branched rays 6(40) (not 7 as in the original description) after 3 unbranched rays; pectoral fin branched rays 15(2), 16(6), 17(4), 16.1; and pelvic fin branched rays 7(1), 8(11). Lateral line scales 29(1), 31(2), 32(1), 33(2), 34(6), 35(3), 36(1), 37(1), 38(1), 41(1) mean 34.2 (Kuru's (1975) range is 32-36); scales above the lateral line 6(7), 7(10), 8(1), mean 6.7; scales below the lateral line 5(5), 6(13), mean 5.7; scales between lateral line and pelvic fin 4(11), 5(1), mean 4.1; predorsal scale rows 11(1), 12(2), 13(5), 14(3), 15(1), mean 13.1; and caudal peduncle scales 13(2), 14(2), 15(6), 16(2), mean 14.7. Total gill rakers 10(2), 11(2), 12(3), 13(3), 14(1), mean 11.9. Pharyngeal teeth 2,3,5-5,3,2(4), 2,3,4-4,3,2(3) or 2,3,4-5,3,2(1). Total vertebrae 39(5), 40(4), mean 39.4.

Caudal peduncle length in head length 1.2-1.3, mean 1.3; caudal peduncle depth in caudal peduncle length 1.5-1.7, mean 1.6; pelvic fin length in standard length 4.6-5.4, mean 5.0; pelvic fin length in pelvic fin origin to anal fin origin distance 1.2-1.6, mean 1.3; dorsal fin spine length in head length 0.8-0.9, mean 0.9; and longest dorsal fin ray in head length 0.9-1.0, mean 0.9.

Sexual dimorphism

Sample sizes are too small to investigate accurately.

Colour

Upper flank scales are outlined by pigment, most evidently anteriorly on each scale. Fins are lightly pigmented with scattered melanophores on both rays and membranes with some concentration on dorsal fin membranes although the extent varies individually. The peritoneum is black.

Size

Reaches 19.4 cm total length (the holotype).

Distribution

Found in the Tigris-Euphrates basin of Turkey and Iran (Coad, 1982f; Coad and Najafpoiur, 1997; Abdoli, 2000). It may also occur in the Zohreh River (Gh. Izadi, pers. comm., 2001).

Zoogeography

Karaman (1971) considers that the closest relatives of this species are to be found in the Indo-Malayan region.

Habitat

This species is found in large rivers in Iran which, however, in mid-summer are more stream-like in water flow. Collections are from the plains of Khuzestan and from altitudes in excess of 1600 m in the Zagros Mountains. Temperatures in early July range from 21 to 23°C. One locality was polluted and others were cloudy or muddy. The river beds are composed of stones.

Age and growth

Unknown.

Food

The elongate gut and black peritoneum suggest a plant component to the diet but examination of two gut contents reveal insect remains including chironomid larvae.

Reproduction

Unknown.

Parasites and predators

Sohrabi and Jalali (2002) report the nematode Schulmanella petruchewskii from the liver of this species caught in the Dez River.

Economic importance

This species is too rare in Iran to be of any economic importance.

Conservation

Recommendations are difficult to make since the ecological requirements of this species are unknown. It appears to be rare but this may only be inadequate sampling techniques. Further collections in addition to the holotype have been made in southern Anatolian Turkey (Kuru, 1978-1979) but it does not seem to be common. Endangered in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007).

Further work

Intensive field work utilising a wide variety of techniques should be directed to determining the abundance and distribution of this species. An adequate material base would then enable ecological studies to be carried out and conservation measures determined.

Sources

Some counts from Kuru (1975) on Turkish material.

Type material: See above, Cyclocheilichthys kosswigi (ZMH H1148).

Iranian material: CMNFI 1979-0275, 1, 126.6 mm standard length, Lorestan, Kashkan River drainage (33º25'N, 47º58'E); CMNFI 1979-0277, 1, 116.5 mm standard length, Lorestan, Kashkan River drainage (33º30'N, 47º59'E); CMNFI 1979-0289, 1, 103.5 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Diyala River drainage (34º28'N, 45º52'E); CMNFI 1979-0290, 2, 120.1-122.1 mm standard length, Kermanshahan, Diyala River drainage (34º31'N, 45º35'E); CMNFI 1979-0368, ?, ? mm standard length, Khuzestan, Karkheh River (32º24'30"N, 48º09'E); uncatalogued, 1, 173.3 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Karkheh River near Shush (no other locality data); uncatalogued, 3, 140.1-179.0 mm standard length, Khuzestan (no other locality data); uncatalogued, 1, 160.0 mm standard length, Khuzestan, Karun River basin near Izeh (no other locality data).

Comparative material: BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1281, 1, 31.2 mm standard length, Iraq, Al Hadithah (34º07'N, 42º23'E); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1292-1296, 4, 35.5-98.5 mm standard length, Iraq, Al Hadithah (34º07'N, 42º23'E).

Barbus lacerta
Heckel, 1843

Above photographs courtesy of Atabak Mahjoor Azad

Common names

blizem, bellizem, سس ماهي (= sos or sas mahi), زرده پر (= zardehpar), orenge, sos mahi Kura.

[Kur sirbiti in Azerbaijan; murtsa, murza, muruza, muruz in Transcaucasia generally; mursa in Armenia; shabout moraqqat in Arabic in Iraq; karrid or karad achmar (red frill or shag, probably from the colour and the long barbels) and karrid asrak (= blue shaggy one) according to Heckel (1843b) in Arabic in Aleppo; Kurinskii usach or Kura barbel in Russian].

Systematics

Howes (1987) places this species in Barbus sensu stricto. Karaman (1971) assigns many taxa as subspecies of Barbus plebejus Bonaparte, 1832 (dated correctly 1839 in Eschmeyer et al. (1996), see Bianco (1995a) for details), found throughout Europe and Southwest Asia. Bianco (1995a) considers that Barbus plebejus is restricted to Adriatic drainages of Italy and Croatia. Valiallahi (2006) considers B. plebejus to be present in Iran and distinct from B. lacerta based mainly on body shape, the relative head length, the body depth and the fourth dorsal fin ray. Barbus plebejus kosswigi Karaman, 1971 is described as new from the "Oberer Teil des Tigris-Systems" and "Hamam suyu, Beytusebab-Hakkari" (upper Tigris River basin in Turkey). Almaça (1991) considers it an ecophenotype of his Barbus plebejus scincus since two subspecies of the same species cannot live in the same river basin. Barbus plebejus kosswigi is a secondary homonym of Cyclocheilichthys (= Barbus) kosswigi according to Kottelat (1997).

Barbus plebejus ciscaucasicus Kessler, 1877 is from the western drainages of the Caspian Sea south to Dagestan but only Barbus plebejus lacerta Heckel, 1843 is found in Iran. It is recognised here as a full species since its relationships to European and other taxa cannot be determined on material available for this study. Bianco and Banarescu (1982) place specimens from the Aras River near Maku, which are probably this species, in Barbus cyclolepis cyri De Filippi, 1865.

Almaça (1981; 1983; 1984a; 1984b, 1986) gives lacerta specific status, distinguishing it from Barbus plebejus by the strong denticulations on the last dorsal fin unbranched ray, lower denticle density, number of scales in transverse rows, shorter head and pectoral fin, longer snout, lower body, the decrease in height of the branched dorsal fin rays is gradual and the profile of the fin is straight, unusual in Barbus with a strongly denticulated dorsal spine. Almaça recognises two subspecies from Iranian drainages:- lacerta from the Tigris-Euphrates basin (and Aleppo) and cyri from the southern Caspian Sea basin. Berg (1948-1949) also refers Caspian Sea basin specimens to Barbus lacerta cyri but in Berg (1949) has cyri from the Tigris River basin too. Saadati (1977) suggests that Lake Orumiyeh basin Barbus lacerta are a distinct subspecies based on higher scale counts there (72-89) than in the Caspian Sea basin. However, B. lacerta as recognised has a wide range in scale counts (see below) and counting methods can differ to include or not supernumerary scales in the lateral line and small scales at the caudal fin base. Fishes resembling B. lacerta from the Namak Lake basin have higher scale counts than Caspian Sea specimens although sample size is too small for a definitive study. Berg (1948-1949) notes that his B. lacerta cyri is subject to extremely wide variations in such characters as body depth, fin and barbel lengths, dorsal spine denticle numbers (even absent in some very large fish) and lateral line scale counts, among others. A large series of specimens would be needed to resolve these problems, allowing for size and sexual variation, new character discoveries and consistent methodologies. Molecular studies might be helpful.

Barbus Lacerta was described from the "Flüssen Kueik bei Aleppo" (Heckel, 1843b).

The following species are synonyms. Barbus Scincus Heckel, 1843 described from "Aleppo" and later from the "Flusse Kueik bei Aleppo" in Heckel (1846-1849a), Barbus cyri De Filippi, 1865 described from the "Kur presso Tiflis" (= Kura River near Tbilisi, Georgia) (including Barbus cyri var. tiflissica Kamenskii, 1899 described from the "Kura bei Tiflis" and Barbus cyri var. chaldanica Kamenskii, 1899 described from the "Andshigan-tschai unweit Chaldan"), Barbus caucasicus Kessler, 1877 from the Kura and Araks rivers and tributaries, Azerbaijan, Barbus toporovanicus Kamenskii, 1899 described from the "Toporavan See" (= Lake Paravani or Taparavani at 41°26'N, 43°48'E, in the upper Kura River basin of Georgia), bortschalinicus Kamenskii, 1899 described from the "schwarze Flüsschen (Das schwarze Flüsschen fällt in die Bortschala, rechter Zufluss des Chram, Nebenfluss der Kura)(tschernaja rjetschka)", Georgia, Barbus sursunicus Kamenskii, 1899 described from "Sursuna in dem Flüsscheu (sic) Kara-tschai, Nebenfluss der Kura, oder ihrem Zuflusse, erbeutet in einer Höhe von ca 3200', zwischen den Seen Tschaldyr-göll und Tuman-göll, dass kleinere aus dem Flüsschen Abastuman-tschai" (Azerbaijan; later in the same article this species is spelt zurzunicus), Barbus armenicus Kamenskii, 1899 described from the "See Tschaldyr-göll, 6522' und den Kars-tschai" (Sildir Gölü and the Kars-chai, Turkey), and Barbus angustatus Kamenskii, 1899 described from the "Kura, bei Borshom". Barbus toporovanicus first appeared in Kamenskii (1887) as a variety of Capoeta fundulus (see Capoeta capoeta). Type localities from Kamenskii (1899) are, obviously, taken from the German text; there is also an accompanying and preceding Russian text with localities in Latin and Russian which are very similar, although in some cases abbreviated.

Heckel (1843), the original describer, recognised Barbus scincus as close to his Barbus lacerta but with a shorter head, sharply decurved forehead, small mouth, and small eyes, all characters not easily quantified without detailed analysis. Berg (1949) placed it in the synonymy of lacerta. Berg's view is followed here; others are described by Almaça (1983; 1984a, 1986) who favours placing scincus as a subspecies of Barbus plebejus as noted above.

The problem with the conclusions above remains, as pointed out earlier, the lack of new material.

Four syntypes of Barbus lacerta are in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NMW 54227), 1 syntype is in the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt (SMF 3471, formerly NMW), and 1 syntype is in the Museum für Naturkunde, Universität Humboldt, Berlin (ZMB 3236, formerly NMW, 110.3 mm standard length, examined February 2006; F. Krupp, pers. comm., 1985; Eschmeyer et al., 1996; Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya, 2003). The Vienna card catalogue in 1997 lists one of NMW 54227 as the lectotype. The Vienna catalogue lists 6 specimens. Bogutskaya in Bănărescu and Bogutskaya (2003) designates 54227-1, 181.6 mm standard length, as the lectotype.

Syntypes of Barbus scincus from "Aleppo", the type locality in Heckel (1843b), are reported in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien by Almaça (1986) and were also examined by me (NMW 22272, 2 specimens, 97.6-146.7 mm standard length, in poor condition and NMW 54526, 1 specimen, 158.8 mm standard length, designated as a lectotype by F. Krupp, 31 October 1984). Eschmeyer et al. (1996) also list NMW 54525 as a syntype and this fish measured 124.2 mm standard length and had been dried at some point before it was examined by me. The Vienna catalogue lists 4 specimens and the card catalogue in 1997 lists these 4 fish with NMW 54526 as "? lectotype" (sic).

Tortonese (1940) and Eschmeyer et al. (1996) list the holotype of Barbus cyri as in the Istituto e Museo di Zoologia della R. Università di Torino (MZUT N.690).

The lectotype of Barbus armenicus, as established by Berg (1948-1949:Fig. 451), is in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg under ZISP 5198 with 3 paralectotypes (Eschmeyer et al., 1996).

The lectotype of Barbus sursunicus is in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg under ZISP 14740 as established in Berg (1948-1949:fig. 451).

Abdurakhmanov (1962) compares fish from the Aras and Kura river basins and the Lenkoranchai. Lenkoran fish have fewer scales, longer head length and depth, greater maximum body depth, greater anal fin height, longer pelvic and ventral fins, a longer lower caudal fin lobe, a shorter caudal peduncle length, a smaller eye, and a shorter interorbital width than Kura and Aras fish; Lenkoran fish have a longer predorsal distance, greater caudal peduncle depth, and greater dorsal fin height than Kura fish though Aras fish are the same; Lenkoran fish have the dorsal fin base and postorbital distance less than in Aras, but not Kura, fish. No taxonomic distinction is made for these variations.

Key characters