Genus Alburnus
Rafinesque, 1820

The bleaks and shemayas are found in Europe and the northern parts of Southwest Asia with about 38 species (depending on definitions of the taxa). There are 5 species in Iran. Records of Alburnus orontis Sauvage, 1882 from Iran by Armantrout (1969), Banarescu (1977) and Wossughi (1978) are in error (Krupp, 1985c). Chalcalburnus Berg, 1933 is now regarded as a synonym of Alburnus Rafinesque, 1820. There have been numerous variant views of this synonymy. Bogutskaya (1990) considers Chalcalburnus to be distinct but later, Bogutskaya (1997b; Bogutskaya et al., 2000; Bogutskaya and Naseka, 2004), synonymises it with Alburnus. Reshetnikov et al. (1997) retain Chalcalburnus as a distinct genus as does Eschmeyer in "Catalog of Fishes" (downloaded, 10 August 2007). Banister (1980) points out that the distinction of the genus from Alburnus is based on the relative lengths of the ventral keel and the relative thickness of the last unbranched dorsal fin ray, characters which he views with suspicion in the absence of other corroborating evidence.

This genus is characterised by an elongate, compressed, moderately deep body of small to moderate size, a terminal mouth, no barbels, scales of moderate size, pharyngeal teeth in 2 rows (2,5-5,2 or 2,5-4,2) with hooked tips and usually serrations (often absent), short dorsal fin without a thickened ray, a long anal fin, long and relatively numerous gill rakers, a fleshy keel between the base of the pelvic fins and the vent (the naked part usually not reaching as far forward as the pelvic fin bases in species formerly placed in Chalcalburnus), and a light to brown or black peritoneum. Some authors consider the genus Alburnoides to be synonyms of Alburnus (e.g. Saadati (1977)) while others disagree (e.g. Bogutskaya (1990)). These genera are treated separately here to accord with common usage in Southwest Asia, a conservative measure when there are conflicting opinions.

Jalali et al. (2002) and Jalali and Barzegar (2006) record several parasites from an undescribed Chalcalburnus species in Lake Zarivar, namely Ichthyophirius multifilis, two species of Argulus, a Trichodina species, Dactylogyrus alatus, Diplostomum spathaceum, Myxobolus molnari and Ligula intestinalis. Masoumian et al. (2007) record the myxosporean parasite Myxobolus saidovi from Alburnus maculatus (sic) in the Zayandeh River and Mehdipoor et al. (2004) record the monogenean Dactylogyrus alatus from Alburnus maculatus (sic), also in the Zayandeh River..

Alburnus doriae de Filippi, 1865 has a type locality of "dintorni di Schiraz" but fish resembling this species have not been caught there in late twentieth and early twenty-first century collections. Krupp (1985c) refers 5 specimens from the type series of Alburnus doriae to his Alburnus sellal and 2 specimens to Squalius lepidus. The lectotype (MZUT N.720 or MZUT P1110) of Alburnus doriae is stored in the Istituto e Museo di Zoologia della R. Università di Torino (122.0 mm standard length as measured by me) and 5 paralectotypes (MSNG C.E. 9102) of this nominal species are in the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova (Tortonese, 1934; 1940; 1961), only one of which is A. doriae (109.1 mm standard length as measured by me). Eschmeyer's "Catalog of Fishes" (downloaded 10 August 2007) has 6 specimens in MSNG C.E. 9102, 5 not this species and gives a locality as probably south of Shiraz.

It seems probable that the fish were collected north of Shiraz, presumably in a Tigris River basin stream based on the other species included in the jar (although Alburnus sellal is more likely to be A. mossulensis, q.v.). These materials may, however, have been mixed and the type locality of this nominal species is obscure.

The species of Alburnus in the Zagros Mountains north of Shiraz and west of Esfahan are currently under investigation and final species identities cannot be given at present. Note that materials identified by Coad (1982d: Alburnus maculatus; 1985: A. doriae) as Leuciscus lepidus were in error. An illustration of A. doriae is given above based on the type material.

Alburnus alburnus
(Linnaeus, 1758)

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; Ünver et al., 2008).

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). On the Tajan River, induction of ovulation has been carried out using LRH-Aa with metoclopramide and carp pituitary extract (Yousefian et al., 2008). Fertilisation rate was 83%, hatching rate 90% and survival of larvae 81%.

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 ;

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