Barilius mesopotamicus

Common name. Mesopotamian barilius.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from superficially similar species of Alburnus, juvenile clupeids, and Cabdio occidentalis by: ● one pair of short barbels / ○ 6–11 roundish, dark, grey blotches on flank. Size up to 65 mm SL.

Distribution . Euphrates and Tigris drainages in southern Türkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. In the lower part of Karun, Zohreh, Helleh, and Mond all flowing into the Persian Gulf. Also, in Dalaki, an endorheic basin nested within Tigris drainage.

Habitat. Upper water column near surface of small to large rivers with slow to moderate currents.

Biology. A wide range of fish of all sizes caught in late summer suggests multiple spawning and a 1-year maturity with a short life span. Absence from cold headwater streams indicates limited tolerance to low temperatures. Feeds on floating aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Coad & Krupp 1983 (description); Liao et al. 2011 (molecular phylogeny).