Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) [I]—Goldfish; Bonni

Taxonomy. Original description: Cyprinus auratus Linnaeus, 1758: 322 [China; Japanese rivers; no types known].— Syrian synonyms: None.—Revisions: None.—Illustration: Kottelat & Freyhof (2007: 144, fig.); Guo (2021: 472, fig.).

Status in Syria. First record from Syria by Taha (2005), confirmed by Barakat et al. (2020).—Syrian material: FMNH, MNHN, MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Euphrates River basins.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Dajleh & Khabour, 2-Euphrates & Aleppo, 6-Coastal.—General distribution: East Asia: China and Japan; introduced widely elsewhere; many cultivated goldfish varieties.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 436-Coastal Levant, 441- Lower Tigris & Euphrates, 442-Upper Tigris & Euphrates.—Habitat: This species inhabits rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and ditches with stagnant or slow-flowing water. It occurs in eutrophic fresh and brackish waters, well-vegetated ponds, and canals. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Valuable for the aquarium trade.

Reasons of introduction. Ornamental fish industry.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).