Acanthobrama persidis ( Coad, 1981 )

Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash, Ghanavi, Hamid Reza & Doadrio, Ignacio, 2020, Fig. 4 in Fig. 4 in Fig. 3 in Fig. 21. Sesarmops mora n in Paralbunea dayriti, Zoological Studies 59 (21), pp. 1-303 : 111-112

Acanthobrama persidis ( Coad, 1981) – Endemic

( Fig. 195)

Pseudophoxinus persidis Coad [B. W.] 1981: 2058; Type locality: Upper Shur River drainage, near Darab on Dorab-Fasa road, 28°45.5'N, 54°24'E, Iran. Holotype: NMC 79–0154A. Paratypes: NMC 79–0154B (95), 79–0499 (5); UMMZ 209931 (2); plus nontype material.

Common name: Pr: Aroos mahi persis, En: Persian chub.

Diagnosis: Pharyngeal tooth count of 1.5–4.1, modally 7 branched dorsal fin rays, a light colored peritoneum but with numerous melanophores, and flanks with a lateral stripe evident posteriorly but fading anteriorly and not reaching the head.

Meristic characters: D: III 6–7, A: (III) 7–10 (8), P: 13–15, V: 7–8, GR: 10–14, LL: 35–43, TV: 34–37.

Distribution: Kor River, Maharlu Lake, Persis and Hormuz basins ( Fig. 196). Presumably, now it is restricted to the uppermost reaches of the Kor River.

Taxonomy: Coad (1998) placed in Leuciscus, Doadrio and Carmona (2006) in Squalius, Bogutskaya and Naseka (2004) in Petroleuciscus but Perea et al. (2010) using mitochondrial genetic information placed this species in Acanthobrama .

Conservation: IUCN: Not Evaluated, PC: Critically Endangered B2b(i,ii,iii,iv)c(i,ii,iii). According to Teimori et al. (2015) there is no recent record of this fish from its type locality in Kol River drainage ( Hormuz basin). Its natural habitat, upstream of Helleh River (Persis basin) is being dried out. Its habitats in Maharlu basin is dried out or is under severe pressure. It seems that A. persidis populations are now restricted to small streams in upper reaches of Kor River basin (Area of occupancy less than 10 km 2). Water diversions severely reduce water level, especially pumping water from the aquifer, which feeds the systems. In addition, drainage rehabilitation, water pollution from domestic and agricultural sources and severe drought in recent years seems to affect populations of this species drastically. It is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered.