Capoeta heratensis

Common name. Central Asian scraper.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Capoeta in Iranian endorheic basins by: ● usually two pairs of barbels / ○ 50–61 total lateral-line scales / ○ 17–22 gill rakers / ○ usually 8½ branched dorsal rays / ○ 8–11 scales between dorsal origin and lateral line / ○ 7–8 scales between anal origin and lateral line / ○ 7–10 scales between pelvic origin and lateral line / ○ back behind head and in front of dorsal origin not or very slightly compressed / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray strong, with many serrae. Size up to 292 mm SL.

Distribution . Hari drainage in Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. In Morghab, Karakum Canal, and Kopetdag streams in Turkmenistan, Zeravshan, and Amu Darja in Central Asia.

Habitat. A wide range of streams and rivers, including reservoirs and lakes, from which it migrates into tributaries to spawn.

Biology. Lives for 8 years, probably longer, reported to mature at 2−4 years and 100 mm (probably TL). Small spawners appear to be all males. Spawns April−August at temperatures between 16 and 23°C (Uzbekistan) on gravel bottoms. Fractional spawners, females spawn more than once in a season.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Individuals with three or two barbels are common in some populations. Capoeta steindachneri is a synonym.

Further reading. Berg 1949b (morphology, distribution); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2017b (morphology); Zareian et al. 2017 (phylogeny, morphology).