Capoeta shajariani

Common name. Karkheh scraper.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from other species of Capoeta in Karkheh, Karun and Zohreh drainages by: ○ flank beige, golden or brown without small black spots, juveniles and some adults individuals with large black blotches / ○ 70–80 scales in lateral-line series / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray moderately ossified, shorter than head, serrated / ○ no groove in front of nares / ○ usually 9½ branched dorsal rays / ○ 13–15 scales between lateral line and dorsal origin / ○ 9–11 scales between anal origin and lateral line / ○ 25–31 circumpedunclular scales / ○ 15–19 gill rakers, 11–14 on lower limb / ○ head depth at eye 105–126 % of postorbital length. Size up to 450 mm SL.

Distribution . Iran: Gamasiab, Dinevar, Razavar, Kashkan, Kahman, and Seymareh in Karkheh drainage.

Habitat. Slow to moderate flowing rivers with gravel beds.

Biology. Feeds on detritus, periphyton, and occasionally small invertebrates.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2017c (description); Zareian & Esmaeili 2017 (description).