Species Accounts - Cyprinidae - Alburnoides
Genus Alburnoides
Jeitteles, 1861
This genus is found in Europe, Asia Minor and Central Asia with 4 species, only one of which is reported in Iran.
The riffle minnows are similar in appearance to the genus Alburnus but have smooth rather than serrated pharyngeal teeth. Arguably this distinction is insufficient to warrant a separate genus but it is retained here as this has not been investigated in depth and the genus has widespread usage. Certainly it is not uncommon to find individuals of Alburnus alburnus lacking serrations on their pharyngeal teeth.
Pharyngeal teeth in Alburnoides are in 2 rows with strongly hooked tips but unserrated, scales of medium size, no groove before the dorsal fin, a keel behind the pelvic fins is usually scaleless but may be wholly scaled, short dorsal and moderate to long anal fin, last dorsal fin unbranched ray thickened, decurved lateral line often with a characteristic spotting pattern above and below each pore, and gill rakers short and few.
Alburnoides bipunctatus
(Bloch, 1782)
Common names
خياطه (= khayataeh) or ماهي خياطه (= mahi khayateh, tailor or tailoress fish, possibly from lateral line pattern like stitches), لپك (= lapak in Mazandaran), پرك (= parak), sima, kuli, شبه زوري (shebeh zury = resembling zury) in Khuzestan.
[gijovcu in Azerbaijan; vostochnaya bystryanka or oriental bystranka, zakavkazskaya bystryanka or Transcaucasian bystranka, Armyanskaya bystryanka or Armenian bystryanka for A. b. armeniensis, all in Russian; spirlin, riffle minnow or riffle bleak].
Systematics
Cyprinus bipunctatus was originally described from the Weser River in Germany. Alburnus Eichwaldii De Filippi, 1863, described from the "Kur presso Tiflis" (= Kura River near Tbilisi, Georgia), is usually regarded as a Caspian Sea basin subspecies of Alburnoides bipunctatus but see Bănărescu (1991) who briefly states that it cannot be distinguished from Alburnoides bipunctatus fasciatus (Nordmann, 1840) of the Black Sea basin. Holčík and Jedlička (1994) consider that the observed variation is clinal and subspecies are not warranted. Reshetnikov et al. (1997) also consider subspecies as disputable. There is another nominal subspecies in the Aras River drainage of Armenia, Alburnoides bipunctatus armeniensis Dadikyan, 1972, from the rivers Arpa, Vorotan, Vedi, Marmarik, Kasakh and their tributaries.
Alburnus maculatus Kessler, 1859 described from small streams of the Crimea, especially near Salghir and the market in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine is a synonym (this is not Alburnus maculatus Keyserling, 1861).
A syntype of Cyprinus bipunctatus described from the Weser River, Germany is in the Museum für Naturkunde, Universität Humboldt, Berlin (ZMB 3357) (Eschmeyer et al., 1996).
Two syntypes of Alburnus eichwaldi from "Tiflis" are in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien under NMW 55516 and 4 syntypes are in the Istituto e Museo di Zoologia della R. Università di Torino under MZUT N.677 (Tortonese, 1940; Eschmeyer et al., 1996).
Syntypes of Alburnoides bipunctatus armeniensis are in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg under ZISP 37502.
Alburnoides bipunctatus in Iran must be regarded as a species complex. The populations in the Caspian Sea basin and possibly the Orumiyeh, Namak Lake and Tedzhen (= Hari River) basins are this species (or its its subspecies eichwaldi). Populations outside these basins, notably in the endorheic Kor River basin of southern Iran, may be distinct taxa but have not been investigated thoroughly. They are currently under study.
Key characters
The pigmentation along the lateral line is distinctive. Total gill raker counts (5-12) are much less than in Alburnus alburnus (16-29, usually 20 or more) which has similar scale and fin rays counts.
Morphology
Dorsal fin with 2-3 unbranched and 6-10, usually 8, branched rays, anal fin with 2-3 unbranched and 10-18 branched rays, usually 12-13 (but see below for Iran). Lateral line scales 41-58. Gill rakers 5-12, usually 7-10. Vertebrae 37-44. Pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2, rarely 2,5-5,2, 2,4-5,2, or 1,5-4,2, with variants being 1,5-4,1, 2,5-4,3, 2,3-4,2, 2,4-4,2, 1,5-4,0, and 1,2,5-4,3. The chromosome number is 2n=50 (Klinkhardt et al., 1995).
Meristics in Iranian specimens from the Caspian Sea: dorsal fin branched rays 7(6), 8(121) or 9(3); anal fin branched rays 11(1), 12(26), 13(61), 14(32), 15(9) or 16(1); pectoral fin branched rays 12(3), 13(23), 14(71), 15(24) or 16(9); pelvic fin branched rays 6(3), 7(116) or 8(11); lateral line scales 43(4), 44(5), 45(25), 46(29), 47(23), 48(13), 49(7), 50(10), 51(6) 52(5), 54(1) or 55(2); total gill rakers 6(7), 7(35), 8(57), 9(30) or 10(1); pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2(14), 2,5-5,2(1) or 2,4-5,2(2); and total vertebrae 37(1), 38(1), 39(4), 40(49), 41(32) or 42(2).
Sexual dimorphism
Abdurakhmanov (1962) reports pelvic fin length greater in males and snout length greater in females for this species in Azerbaijan.
Colour
There is a characteristic pigmentation along the lateral line with a small spot above, and another below, the lateral line opening on each scale. This only appears in preserved material as live fish are an overall silvery colour. It can be absent, mostly in lake forms. The flank has a blue-grey stripe wider than the eye diameter. Above the lateral line there may be a series of 5-9 black lines formed of triangular blotches and 3-5 similar lines below the lateral line. The back and head are dark olive, almost black, dark green or dark brown. The flank above the lateral line may have purple iridescent tints. The flanks can be a golden yellow. The belly and lower head are pearly-white. The dorsal and caudal fins have some grey pigment or may be dark grey. The bases of the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins have orange to red pigmentation which is not well developed in young. The extent and intensity of this pigment is variable between fins, although in some fish it is equally developed in all these fins.
Size
Reaches 14.5 cm, rarely over 16.0 cm.
Distribution
Found from France through Europe north of the Alps eastwards to the Black, Caspian and Aral Sea basins. In Iran, as the Alburnoides bipunctatus species complex, it is widely distributed and is found in the basins of the Caspian Sea, Lake Orumiyeh, Tedzhen River (the Kashaf River for example), Kavir, Namak Lake, Esfahan (Zayandeh and Shur rivers), Tigris River, Gulf, and Kor River (Wossughi, 1978; Aliev et al., 1988; Holčík and Oláh, 1992; Shamsi et al., 1997; Roshan Tabari, 1997; Abbasi et al., 1999; Kiabi et al., 1999; Abdoli, 2000; Jalali et al., 2005).
A record from a qanat at Hormak (29°58'N, 60°51'E) in the Sistan basin by Saadati (1977) is probably an error of labeling or sorting. It is not mentioned in the collector's (R. J. Behnke) original field notes nor in a typed version. Also this species was not collected there by me.
Zoogeography
This species shows considerable variation over its range from Europe to southern Iran. Dadikyan (1973) demonstrated variability in this species in a mountainous region of Armenia within the Aras River basin. Up to 10 characters could be used to distinguish populations within the same river but taken at different altitudes. Populations at similar altitudes but in different rivers (and habitat types, e.g. rushing rocky streams compared to a bog) also varied but the characters were not necessarily the same as those distinguishing altitudinal variants within one river. Local conditions, such as temperature and flow regime, may govern the characters at any one site. Gene flow may play a part as fish are carried downstream by heavy rainfall. Populations living within the same river are presumably more closely related than populations in different river systems but may show more differences than populations at similar altitudes but which have had no gene flow for long periods. These factors complicate designation of subspecies in this species and accurate analysis requires large series of specimens.
Habitat
This species inhabits small streams and is less frequent in the main flow of large rivers. In Iran, it is one of two most abundant species in Caspian rivers along with Capoeta capoeta (Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization Newsletter, 19:4, 1998). It prefers well-oxygenated water, low in pollution, with hard stream beds. In laboratory experiments with European specimens, Bless (1996) found that reproduction requires a stream velocity of 0.4 ms-1 and a gravel substrate with a diameter of 2-15 cm which allows interstitial flow.
Age and growth
In Azerbaijan, maturity is attained at 1-2 years and life span is 3 years (Abdurakhmanov, 1962).
Food
Food is taken from the bottom or from the water surface, the former being mostly insect larvae and the latter terrestrial organisms which fall on the water. Abdoli (2000) lists Simuliidae, Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Chironimidae and Trichoptera. Diatoms are also found in gut contents (Abdurakhmanov, 1962).
Reproduction
Spawning takes place in spring (April-June) at 13-15.6°C and adhesive eggs are laid on sand or gravel in fast-flowing water. Fecundity reaches 6496 eggs and egg diameter 2.16 mm (Abdurakhmanov, 1962). Bless (1996) reports multiple spawning over a period of 15 weeks in laboratory conditions.
Parasites and predators
Jalali and Molnár (1990a) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus alatus and D. chalcalburni from this species in the Zayandeh Rud. Gussev et al. (1993b) also reports the latter species and locality. The monogenean Diplozoon paradoxum is recorded from this species in the Tajan River, Mazandaran (Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization Newsletter, 6:7, 1994). Shamsi et al. (1997) report Clinostomum complanatum, a parasite causing laryngo-pharyngitis in humans, from this species. Masoumian and Pazooki (1998) surveyed myxosporeans in this species in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces, finding Myxobolus ellipsoides. Masoumian et al. (2005) report the protozoan parasites Ichthyophthirius multifilis, Trichodina perforata and Chilodonella, sp. from this species in water bodies in West Azarbayjan. Mortazavi Tabrizi et al. (2005) record Ligula intestinalis in this species from the Sattarkhan Dam in East Azerbaijan. Pazooki et al. (2005) record Trichodina perforata from this species in waterbodies of Zanjan Province. Pazooki et al. (2006) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus vistulae, Gyrodactylus sp. and Paradiplozoon sp. from this fish in Zanjan Province. Mehdipoor et al. (2004) record the monogeneans Dactylogyrus alatus, D. chalcalburni and D. pulcher in the Zayandeh River.
Economic importance
Robins et al. (1991) list this species as important to North Americans. Importance is based on its use as bait and in textbooks. It is also a known feeder on the larvae of the malaria-carrying mosquito.
Conservation
Lelek (1987) considers that this species is vulnerable to endangered in Europe through pollution and eutrophication. Vulnerable in Turkey (Fricke et al., 2007). Kiabi et al. (1999) consider this species to be of least concern in the south Caspian Sea basin according to IUCN criteria. Criteria include abundant in numbers, habitat destruction, widespread range (75% of water bodies), present in other water bodies in Iran, and present outside the Caspian Sea basin.
Further work
This species complex needs to be investigated further, requiring large series of specimens from the eastern part of its range in Asia and/or new characters and molecular/genetic techniques. Meristic and morphometric characters seem to be plastic and could be environmentally determined, making taxon definition difficult.
Sources
Iranian material: CMNFI 1970-0522, 22, 40.4-80.3 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Astaneh Bridge (37º16'30"N, 49º56'E); CMNFI 1970-0536, 3, 71.9-89.6 mm standard length, Gilan, Siah River estuary (36º53'N, 49º32'E); CMNFI 1970-0546, 3, 57.1-69.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River canal (no other locality data); CMNFI 1970-0551, 1, 108.4 mm standard length, Gilan, Ghaleh River near Fowman (37º13'N, 49º19'E); CMNFI 1970-0583, 16, 40.7-87.3 mm standard length, Gilan, Nahang Roga River (37º28'N, 49º28'E); CMNFI 1971-0327A, 6, 59.3-81.0 mm standard length, Gilan Shafa River (37º35'N, 49º09'E); CMNFI 1979-0239, 2, 57.1-79.3 mm standard length, Markazi, Nam River near Firuzkuh (35º43'N, 52º40'E); CMNFI 1979-0439A, 4, 53.4-72.2 mm standard length, Gilan, Shafa River (37º35'30"N, 49º05'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0440, 11, 53.7-88.6 mm standard length, Gilan, Lomir River (37º37'N, 49º02'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0441, 4, 52.4-55.7 mm standard length, Gilan, river 14 km south of Hashtpar (37º42'N, 48º58'E); CMNFI 1979-0445, 1, 70.6 mm standard length, Gilan, stream 10 km south of Astara (38º21'N, 48º51'E); CMNFI 1979-0453, 2, 45.8-65.1 mm standard length, Zanjan, Zanjan River (37º06'N, 47º56'E); CMNFI 1979-0454, 6, 39.6-56.0 mm standard length, Zanjan, Qezel Owzan River at Gilavan (36º47'N, 49º08'E); CMNFI 1979-0483, 2, 93.0-98.6 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Chashmeh River (37º23'30"N, 55º51'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0493, 11, 51.1-82.8 mm standard length, Mazandaran, Tajan River drainage (36º19'N, 53º23'E); CMNFI 1979-0695, 74, 34.1-71.1 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Manjil Bridge (36º46'N, 489º24'E); CMNFI 1980-0116, 19, 41.1-70.3 mm standard length, Gilan, Safid River at Astaneh Bridge (37º16'30"N, 49º56'E).
Alburnoides taeniatus
(Kessler, 1874)
Reported from the Tedzhen River basin (Aliev et al., 1988), Karakum Canal, Kopetdag Reservoir and Uzboi lakes (Shakirova and Sukhanova, 1994; Sal'nikov, 1995) in Turkmenistan on the northeastern border of Iran. It may eventually reach the Caspian Sea basin and the Tedzhen (= Hari) River basin of Iran. No Iranian record.
© Brian W. Coad (www.briancoad.com)