Acanthobrama marmid Heckel, 1843 [N]—Mesopotamian bream; Besbasi

Taxonomy. Original description: Acanthobrama marmid Heckel, 1843a: 1075 [85] [Kueik River at Aleppo, Syria; syntypes: NMW 55345-48 (2, 2, 2, 2), 79068 (2); RMNH 2537 (4) Aleppo, 2539 (2) Aleppo; SMF 543 (4) Aleppo].—Syrian synonyms: Acanthobrama arrhada Heckel, 1843; Acanthobrama cupida Heckel, 1843 .— Revisions: Goren et al. (1973: 296).—Illustration: Heckel (1843b: pl. 9, fig. 2); Freyhof & Özulug (2014: 7, fig.7).

Status in Syria. Recorded from Syria in original description by Heckel (1843a: 1076); subsequently reported by Gruvel (1931); Goren et al. (1973); Saad et al. (2009).—Syrian material: BMNH, MCZ, MNHN, NMW, RMNH, MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Euphrates, Tigris and Orontes river basins.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Dajleh & Khabour, 2-Euphrates & Aleppo, 4-Orontes.—General distribution: Asia Minor and Middle East: Euphrates, Tigris and Orontes river basins (Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran).—Distribution in Ecoregion: 437-Orontes, 441-Lower Tigris & Euphrates, 442-Upper Tigris & Euphrates.—Habitat: This species is very ubiquitous, inhabiting all kinds of lowland water bodies with standing or slowly flowing waters, such as larger streams, rivers, springs, marshes, reservoirs, and lakes, as well as moderately polluted water bodies. Usually absent from fast-flowing and cold mountain streams. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Syria: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: There are many threats throughout the large distribution area of this species, but none is serious enough to impact major parts of the populations.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered as a keystone species.—Decline status: Stable.—Low priority for conservation action.