Planiliza abu

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 809

Planiliza abu

Common name. Abu mullet.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of mullets entering freshwaters in West Asia by: ● 44–50 total scales in lateral series / ● pectoral long, reaching almost to vertical of first dorsal origin / ○ no golden blotch on opercle / ● two irregular dark-grey lateral stripes / ○ caudal deeply emarginate / ○ upper lip smooth / ○ without adipose tissue rim around eye. Size up to 220 mm SL.

Distribution. Persian Gulf basin from Euphrates and Tigris south to Indus. A relict population in Al-Ahsa oasis in Saudi Arabia. Introduced in Orontes, Ceyhan and Seyhan drainages ( Türkiye), and Kor basin ( Iran).

Habitat. Medium-sized streams to large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Also, in densely vegetated springs and canals. A wide range of still to moderately fast-flowing waters. Absent from very fast-flowing rivers and streams. Usually in salinities below 2 ‰ but can tolerate up to 30 ‰. Usually a warm-water species, absent from cold headwaters of Anatolia.

Biology. Freshwater species usually live in large schools under water’s surface. Lives up to 7 years, usually 4–5 years. Spawns first time at one year and about 100 mm TL in late February–March (southern Iraq), March–May ( Baghdad), and March–July (southern Türkiye). Spawns once or twice a year. Eggs attached to submerged vegetation. Feeds mainly on detritus, phytoplankton, and aquatic plants. Small amounts of planktonic invertebrates are taken.

Remarks. This species is a very powerful invader and would be able to colonise large parts of the Mediterranean basin if introduced.

Conservation status. LC; relatively resistant to pollution. Despite its small size, commercially caught in large quantities, particularly in Iran and Iraq and accidentally introduced in Mediterranean coastal areas in Türkiye and Syria, where it is considered a pest.

Further reading. Talwar & Jhingran 1992 (distribution, identification); Coad 2010a (biology); Kaya et al. 2016 (distribution); Bayçelebi 2020 (distribution).

Planiliza haematocheilus ; aquarium Moskow, Russia; ~ 300 mm SL. © J. Pfleiderer.