The sisorid or sucker catfishes are found in Asia as far east as Borneo. There are about 17 genera with about 112 species (Nelson, 2006). They are mostly small (as small as 2 cm) although some are very large (2 m). Five nominal species are reported from the Tigris-Euphrates basin in Southwest Asia but the diversity there is very limited, compared to India for example. A single specimen of a sisorid catfish has been caught in the Yeşil Irmak of Anatolian Turkey at Taşova (40°46'N, 36°20'E). This Black Sea drainage specimen calls into question the utility of characters used in identifying and defining species in Southwest Asia. Its characters are a mixture of features shared by G. armeniacus and G. silviae. A wide range of specimens of both sexes, various age groups and from various localities is not available to assess variation and resolve the species composition of the Southwest Asian fauna (Coad and Delmastro, 1985)).

The sisorid catfish family is characterised by a rounded to compressed body and a flattened head; short dorsal fin positioned anterior to the level of the pelvic fins; a spine in the dorsal fin (absent in some non-Iranian species) and in the pectoral fin; a well-developed adipose fin; a short anal fin; paired fins horizontal; gill membranes generally united to the isthmus; anterior and posterior nostrils close together; distinct nasal barbel present; 4-6 pairs of barbels; body with small tubercles (unculi); and a distinct thoracic adhesive apparatus in Iranian species but absent in some other species.

These catfishes are found in mountain streams where they use the adhesive apparatus to maintain position in the current. In Iran they are reputed to lie on their backs in the water to take a rest! They are also very resistant and can live for 6 hours wrapped in wet cloth, reviving when placed in an aquarium (R. Mehrani, pers. comm., 2000).

Genus Glyptothorax
Blyth, 1860

This genus is characterised by a flattened head, an adipose fin of moderate length, a short dorsal fin with a strong spine, the spine serrated anteriorly or posteriorly, or smooth, pectoral fin spine serrated posteriorly and in some with plicate skin ventrally, 4 pairs of barbels, maxillary barbels broadly based, an inferior and transverse mouth, villiform teeth on the roof of the mouth in two patches, eyes small and partly obscured by skin, gill openings wide, gill membranes joined to the isthmus, and an adhesive apparatus on the chest formed from plaits or folds of skin, often with a central depression.

The validity of the described Glyptothorax species in the Tigris-Euphrates has not been adequately resolved. Three other nominal species occur in addition to the two reported here from Iran, namely G. armeniacus (Berg, 1918), G. cous (Linnaeus, 1766), and G. steindachneri (Pietschmann, 1913) (see Coad and Delmastro (1985) for a partial discussion of this problem). Resolution of the taxa found in Iran awaits more extensive material for a better understanding of individual and species variation.

Aglyptosternon Bleeker, 1862 (and such mispellings as Aclyptosteron, Enclyptosternum and variants- see Eschmeyer (1990) for details) are synonyms of Glyptothorax (Li, 1986; Eschmeyer, 1990).

Confusion over the family placement of these fishes in various literature sources is reviewed in Banister (1980).

They are known generally as گربه ماهي (= gorbeh mahi, meaning cat fish) or arteshi in Farsi. Arteshi (meaning soldier-like) may be from their tank-like appearance or for their pigmentation which is said to resemble camouflage. Another general name is سگ ماهي (sag mahi, meaning dog fish). General names are not repeated below.

Menon (1954) considered that the members of this genus had spread westwards along the Himalayas as late as the early Pleistocene. A centre of origin in western Yunnan and the southern slopes of the Himalayas is advocated by Li (1986). This author suggests that a Pliocene movement occurred westwards and that, as well, the distribution of Glyptothorax was influenced by Pleistocene glaciations. Their entry route into the Tigris-Euphrates basin is given as along the Amu Darya system.

Glyptothorax armeniacus
(Berg, 1918)

Found in the Euphrates River basin southeast of Erzurum in Turkey but no Iranian record.

Glyptothorax cous
(Linnaeus, 1766)

Reported from the Tigris River basin in Iraq but no Iranian record. Species identity in the Tigris needs confirmation by specimens. See Banister (1980) for a brief history of the confusion surrounding the name of this species in the literature.

Glyptothorax kurdistanicus
(Berg, 1931)

Common names

gorbehmahi-ye Kordestan.

[Kordestan sisorid; Iran cat (Fricke et al., 2007)].

Systematics

This species was originally described in the genus Glyptosternum, an unjustified emendation of Glyptosternon McClelland, 1842 by Berg (1931a). See Eschmeyer (1990) for further details on this genus name.

The holotype of this species is in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg (ZISP 20780) and is in poor condition, the pectoral spines being damaged for example. It is an adult male. The collection date in Berg (1931a) is 10 July 1914 (or 27 June old style). The type locality is "in Kurdistan, at the village Germau (or Germav), at the height of 1500 m, during the works of the Turko-Persian delimitation commission. Germau (or Germav, Germaw) is situated in latitude 36°N south-east of Serdesht, on the western slope of the Sur-kei Range, in the basin of the river Bané, tributary to the Little Zab, which is tributary to the Tigris R.". Berg (1949) gives the variants Germab and Sar Dasht for the localities and Bané is probably Baneh. The village Germab could not be located in gazetteers or on maps but Sar Dasht (36°09'N, 45°28'E) and Baneh (35°59'N, 45°53'E) are evident and the locality is between them.

Key characters

Berg (1931a) separates this species from G. armeniacus by the broader than long adhesive apparatus which does not have pinnate lateral branches and these characters also contrast with G. silviae. The caudal peduncle is short (5.9-6.0 in standard length compared to 4.7-5.2 in G. silviae).

Morphology

Dorsal fin with 1 spine followed by 5-7 branched rays, anal fin with 2 unbranched rays followed by 7-9 branched rays (note that these fin ray counts in Berg (1931a) do not agree with his figure). Pectoral fin with 1 spine and 7-9 branched rays. Total gill rakers 7-9, moderately long and reaching beyond the base of the second raker below when appressed. The adipose fin is short, much shorter than the distance between the dorsal and adipose fins. There are oblique osseus striae under the skin of the upper surface of the first pectoral ray. Head and body covered with minute, elongate tubercles oriented longitudinally but without striae. Tubercles are also present on the base of the caudal fin rays, adipose fin, base of the dorsal and pectoral fins, on the pectoral spine along its whole length both dorsally and ventrally, a few on the base of the pelvic fin rays and few to none on the belly particularly anterior to the pelvic fins. Tubercles on the side of the head are more rounded. Berg (1931a) states that the upper jaw tooth patch has well-developed lateral rami, but these do not extend markedly from the main patch. The nasal barbel is short and does not extend back to the eye. The maxillary barbel is shorter than head length and the mandibular and mental barbels are progressively shorter. The gut is an elongate s-shape after a muscular stomach.

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown.

Colour

Overall colour grey to brown with large, obvious, round, black spots and blotches on the sides or with small round black spots about eye size. All fins with broad black central band and variably developed basal bar. Basal bar most evident on the caudal fin. Adipose mostly covered with a large dark spot but dorsal and posterior edges hyaline.

Size

Attains 267.2 mm total length.

Distribution

Found in the Tigris-Euphrates basin including that part in Iran. Abdoli (2000) has mapped it in the upper Karun, middle and lower Dez, middle and upper Karkheh, Kashkan, Simarreh and lower Gav Masiab rivers.

Zoogeography

The relationships of this species, as with other members of the genus, is presumably with the more diverse fauna to the east.

Habitat

Unknown in detail but it is assumed to be in rocky and gravelly rivers which provide hiding places.

Age and growth

Unknown.

Food

Unknown for Iran but Turkish specimens contained fish remains in the stomach.

Reproduction

Unknown.

Parasites and predators

Unknown.

Economic importance

This species is not of any direct economic importance.

Conservation

This species is poorly known in Iran and may be rare enough to warrant conservation efforts.

Further work

See under G. silviae.

Sources

Type material: See above, Glyptosternum armeniacum (ZISP 20780).

Iranian material: None.

Comparative material:- BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1789, 346.6 mm standard length, Iraq (no other locality data); BM(NH) 1968.12.13:465-470, 4, 53.7-76.8 mm standard length, Syria, Euphrates at Mayadine (35º01'N, 40º27'E); SMF 23676, 4, 229.0-297.7 mm standard length, Syria, bei al-Hasaka (36º30'N, 40º44'E); SMF 23677, 2, 65.7-122.0 mm standard length, Syria, Wadi Furati (36º26'N, 40º52'E); ZMH 4430, 2, 129.8-133.3 mm standard length, Turkey, Kemaliye Karasu (no other locality data).

Glyptothorax silviae
Coad, 1981

Common names

gorbehmahi-ye jonubi or jonub (= southern catfish).

[Sylvie's sisorid, southern sisorid].

Systematics

The holotype is in the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa under CMNFI 1979-0390A and measures 67.6 mm standard length. It is from "Khuzestan, stream 3 km south of Bagh-e Malek, tributary to Rud-e Zard or Ab-e Ala in the drainage of the Jarrahi River, 31°29'N, 49°54'30"E". Two paratypes from the same locality measure 44.0-51.5 mm standard length and are under CMNFI 1979-0390B, a third paratype measuring 42.3 mm standard length under CMNFI 1979-0389 is from a "stream tributary to Rud-e Zard or Ab-e Ala, 1 km south of Bagh-e Malek, in the drainage of the Jarrahi River, 31°31'N, 49°53'30"E", and a fourth paratype measuring 134.8 mm standard length under CMNFI 1979-0280 is from "Lorestan, river at "Pol-e Chubee" in Kashkan River drainage on Khorramabad to Kermanshah road via Nurabad (either Kaka Reza River at 33°43'N, 48°15'E or its tributary at 33°47'N, 48°12'E)".

Key characters

The head and body dorso-laterally lack striated or elongate tubercles (present in G. kurdistanicus). The thoracic adhesive apparatus is longer than wide (the reverse in G. kurdistanicus). The caudal peduncle is long (4.7-5.2 in standard length, 5.9-6.0 in G. kurdistanicus).

Morphology

Dorsal fin spines are smooth and number 2, branched rays 6; anal fin branched rays 8; pectoral fin branched rays 7-9; pelvic fin branched rays 5; total gill rakers 6-9; retrorse pectoral fin spine teeth 7-16, the number increasing with size of the fish; and total vertebrae 35-38. The adipose fin is long, its length being about equal to the distance between the dorsal fin insertion and the adipose origin (0.9-1.1). The pectoral fin is short and does not extend back to the pelvic fin origin. The caudal peduncle is deep (depth 47-62% of caudal peduncle length). The "sucker" or thoracic adhesive apparatus has pinnate lateral branches and is markedly longer than wide with a wide and long central depression. The head and body are finely papillose, particularly on the ventral surface. Anterior to the adhesive apparatus the ventral head surface is strongly papillose, becoming less developed laterally. The upper lip is much more strongly papillose than the weakly papillose lower lip.

Sexual dimorphism

Unknown.

Colour

The body is nearly immaculate but in live fish is mottled light lime- green, grey-green, brown or grey. All fins have a central black bar on a salmon-pink, peach or yellow coloured background. The thoracic adhesive apparatus is pink due to an underlying vascular supply. The eye is red.

Preserved fish may have very few scattered brown or black spots dorsally and laterally on an otherwise immaculate body. The overall body colour is brown becoming pale brown or cream on the belly. The base of the caudal fin has a wide black bar separated from a second distal bar by an unpigmented section of the fin rays. The central-most 4 rays of the caudal fin are variably black in the otherwise unpigmented bar. The postero-dorsal and postero-ventral corners of the caudal lobes are not pigmented but the margins of the lobes are black. The central portion of the adipose fin is black with the margins unpigmented in smaller specimens. There is no black pigment on the basal part of this fin. The paired fins and the anal fin are unpigmented distally but become yellowish with fleshy tissue proximally and then brown at their bases. A central band is not well-defined in small specimens. A light patch is found on the back at the dorsal fin origin and at the dorsal fin insertion. The dorsal fin is darkly pigmented and a central black band is apparent although poorly defined. The adult female is generally darker than the smaller male fish in the type series such that the caudal fin bars are not as well defined, The adipose fin is dark brown and the light patches at the dorsal fin are not distinctive. However the bars on the dorsal, anal and paired fins are more obvious.

Size

Reaches 13.5 cm standard length.

Distribution

Known only from rivers draining to the Persian Gulf in southwestern Iran. Abdoli (2000) has also mapped it in the upper Karun and middle to lower Khersan, and middle to lower Dez rivers in the Tigris River basin and in the Mand and Shur rivers of the Gulf basin (the latter tributary to the Dasht-e Palang River).

Zoogeography

This species is known from waters in southern Khuzestan and from a single specimen from the Gulf basin. This latter is probably a relict of the late Pleistocene when the Tigris-Euphrates flowed down a drained Gulf receiving tributaries now isolated by the post-Pleistocene rise in sea level (Coad and Krupp, 1983).

Habitat

Their ability to use their sucker for clinging to objects can be seen in plastic jars where small specimens will adhere to the sides out of the water.

Age and growth

Unknown. Esmaeili and Ebrahimi (2006) give a significant length-weight relationship based on 10 fish measuring 5.60-10.66 cm fork length. The a-value was 0.0164 and the b-value 2.975 (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

Unknown.

Reproduction

The largest specimen in the type series is a female bearing eggs and was caught on 6 July. The breeding season is probably the summer months.

Parasites and predators

Unknown.

Economic importance

This species is not of any direct economic importance.

Conservation

Collections with an electroshocker in 1995 showed this species to be common in the Rud-e Zard.

Further work

The distribution of this and related species should be determined by further field work using electroshocking equipment to extract specimens from under rocks. The validity of the nominal Tigris-Euphrates basin species, including this one, needs examination using large series of adult and young which are not yet available in collections. Variation in critical characters is poorly known because of this shortage of specimens. Molecular and chromosomal techniques may provide additional characters.

Sources

Type material: See above, Glyptothorax silviae (CMNFI 1979-0390A, CMNFI 1979-0390B, CMNFI 1979-0280 and CMNFI 1979-0389).

Iranian material: Type material.

Glyptothorax steindachneri
(Pietschmann, 1913)

Reported from the Tigris River basin at Mosul in Iraq. The two syntypes in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien have not been located (1997 visit) and the brief description is without figures or details of the thoracic adhesive apparatus. Its validity is in question. Not reported from Iran.

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