Capoeta damascina (Valenciennes, 1842) [N]—Mesopotamian barb; Hafaf Israeli

Taxonomy. Original description: Gobio damascinus Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1842: 314, pl. 482 [Damascus, Syria; lectotype: MNHN 0000-4494; lectotype selected by Krupp & Schneider (1989: 365)].— Israel synonyms: Scaphiodon socialis Heckel, 1843; Capoeta syriaca (Valenciennes, 1844); Capoeta kosswigi Karaman, 1969.—Revisions: None.—Illustration: Krupp & Schneider (1989: 366. fig. 17).

Status in Israel. First record from Israel by Günther (1865: 490) and Tristram (1884: 104, 172, 173) as Scaphiodon capoeta, Capoeta damascina, C. syriaca and C. socialis, Lortet (1883: 151, 160) as Capoeta syriaca and C. damascina, and by Steinitz (1953: 209) as Varicorhinus damascinus; confirmed by Goren (1974: 88), Goren & Ortal (1999: 4).—Israel material: HUJ.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Israel: Jordan River system and coastal plain.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Western Basin, 2-Dead Sea Basin, 3-Kinneret Basin.—General distribution: Asia Minor and Middle East: Levant, Mesopotamia, and southeastern Anatolia (Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey).—Distribution in Ecoregion: 438- Jordan River.—Habitat: This species inhabits a very wide range of all kinds of permanent waterbodies, at least seasonally, with gravel or running water. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation Status in Israel: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: ABS, CLI, CON, EUT, HAB.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered a keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.—Low priority for conservation action.