Carasobarbus sublimus (Coad & Najafpour, 1997)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 158-162

Carasobarbus sublimus

Common name. Persian kiss-lip himri.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Carasobar-

bus in Persian Gulf and Mediterranean basins by: ● 24–29

total lateral-line scales / ○ a fleshy median lobe on lower

lip / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray about as long as head,

strongly ossified / ○ two pairs of barbels / 12 circumpedun-

cular scales. Size up to 145 mm SL.

Distribution. Iran: Jarrahi and Zohreh drainages.

Habitat. Streams with medium to fast currents and hard

substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. EN.

Further reading. Coad & Najafpour 1997 (description);

Borkenhagen et al. 2011 (phylogeny); Borkenhagen & Krupp

2013 (description, distribution); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al.

2024 (distribution).

Carassius accurate reflection of their species identities. Mitochondrial Carps of the genus Carassius are immediately distinguish- DNA lacks recombination, which is not useful to identify able from all other cyprinids in the region by having a long hybrids.In particular,triploid individuals frequently possess dorsal fin, a terminal mouth without barbels, and the last genomes from two (or all three) different “species”. There unbranched anal and dorsal rays strongly serrated. Crucian is strong evidence that C. auratus , C. gibelio , and C. langscarp C. carassius is the only species native to the area. Three dorfii form large and highly diverse hybrid swarms in their different species are known to be involved in the so-called non-native range. As all three “species” could reproduce by C. auratus complex. These are (1) C. auratus , a widespread diploid sexual reproduction, they appear to have hybridised ornamental species that has become feral in many areas; (2) extensively, and their genomes are largely intermingled. We C. gibelio , an Asian species that may have been introduced are confident that future nuclear DNA studies will not support with stocked fishes;(3) C. langsdorfii believed to be endemic to three distinct, reproductively isolated non-native species Japan and introduced as a pest with ornamental koi. An addi- in West Asia or Europe. However, some local populations tional unnamed lineage potentially originating from Central may be pure C. auratus , C. gibelio , or C. langsdorfii . Identi- Asia was introduced mostly within countries of the former fying non-native Carassius to the species level is impossible Soviet Union and may be found in West Asia in the future. because of the lack of morphological and molecular charac-

All three mitochondrial lineages of non-native Car- ters to identify pure species. We do not even know whether assius in West Asia are diploid and reproduce normally. pure populations of non-native Carassius exist in West Asia, This means that haploid male and female gametes join and except for locally stocked C. auratus . We, therefore, refer produce a diploid offspring. In C. auratus , this is the only to all populations as “ C. auratus complex”, pending future mode of reproduction. In the other lineages, triploid, all-fe- studies. male fish are common (but not found everywhere), and It should not be forgotten that Carassius hybridise with these reproduce by gynogenesis. Here, the sperm only trig- Cyprinus carpio . Their hybrids are fertile and may form gers the triploid egg, and the offspring are clonal, triploid populations independent of their parental species. Such copies of the mother. If the sperm is included in the genome hybrid populations are known from Europe but have yet of the egg cell, then tetraploid individuals hatch. This might to be discovered in West Asia. Carassius x Cyprinus hybrids occasionally be the case in all populations with triploid fish. can be recognised by their short barbels. Further reading. Triploid individuals are common, often even dominant, in Murakami et al. 2001 (polyploidy systems in Japan); Szczermany populations of the mitochondrial lineages called C. bowski 2002 (biology); Hänfling et al. 2005 (genetics); Gao et gibelio and C. langsdorfii . These lineages can switch between al.2012 (diversity in Asia); Kalous et al. 2013 (mtDNA records a recombinant and a clonal mode of reproduction. of C. langsdorfii in Europe); Rylková et al. 2013 (non-native

The assignment of individual Carassius to C. auratus , C. Carassius in Europe); Halas et al. 2018 (diversity in North gibelio , or C. langsdorfii by their mitochondrial DNA is not an America); Khosravi et al. 2020 ( Iran).

Individual with mtDNA of C. auratus ; Sirvan drainage, Iraq; ~ 130 mm SL.

Carassius auratus Conservation status. Non-native; introduced as a weed Common name. Goldfish. with stocked carp.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from C. carassius in West Asia Further reading. Kottelat 1997 (systematics); Szczerby: ● flank silvery, golden-green or reddish / ● last simple bowski 2002 (biology); Kottelat & Freyhof 2007 (distribution, anal and dorsal rays strongly serrated / ● 38–52 gill rakers / biology).

● 26–33 total lateral-line scales/ ● free edge of dorsal concave

or straight / ● usually 5½ branched anal rays / ● peritoneum Carassius carassius

black. Size up to 350 mm SL. Common name. Crucian carp.

Distribution. Widespread in West Asia. Most non-native Diagnosis. Distinguished from non-native species of Caras- Carassius in West Asia have mitochondria belonging to this sius in West Asia by: ○ flank golden-green / ● last simple species. Reportedly native to East Asia, from Amur to Xi Jiang anal and dorsal rays weakly serrated / ● 23–33 gill rakers / drainages in Russia, China, Korea, and Japan, several species ● 31–36 total lateral-line scales / ● free edge of dorsal appear to be confused under a single name, as evidenced convex / ● usually 6½ branched anal rays / ● peritoneum by available data on Japanese populations. Domesticated in whitish. Size up to 550 mm SL.

China more than 1000 years ago, introduced to Japan in 16 th Distribution. Locally in lower Sakarya (Akgöl), where it century and imported from Japan to Europe in 1611 (Portu- might be native,and in the upper Aras drainage (Lake Çıldır), gal),1691 ( England),and 1755 ( France) and subsequently intro- where it may be non-native. Native to North, Baltic, White, duced throughout West Asia,Europe, and most of the world. Barents, northern Black, and Caspian Sea basins; Aegean Sea

Habitat. A wide variety of still waters and moderately basin only in Maritza drainage; eastward to Kolyma drainslow-flowing rivers. Very tolerant of low oxygen and pol- age (Siberia); westward to Rhine and eastern drainages lution. Usually associated with submerged vegetation or of England. Absent from North Sea basin in Sweden and periodic flooding. Spawns on shallow, warm banks, on sub- Norway. In Baltic basin, north to about 66°N. Widely intromerged vegetation or roots. duced to Italy, England, and France but possibly often con-

Biology. Only diploid populations known. Spawns first time fused with C. auratus .

at 1−2 years. Spawns June−July when temperatures reach Habitat. Usually restricted to densely vegetated backwaters 15−20°C. Juveniles need high temperatures to grow. Single and oxbows of lowland rivers. Also, in small, well-vegetated females spawn with a few males in dense vegetation. Eggs lakes and channels. Tolerates high summer temperatures are sticky and attached to water plants or other submerged and very low oxygen concentrations in summer and under objects. Usually lives for about 20 years in artificial con- ice cover. Able to survive in almost completely frozen water ditions. Omnivorous, feeds mainly on plankton, benthic or almost-dry habitats by burying itself in mud. Spawns in invertebrates, plant material, and detritus. dense submerged vegetation.

Carassius carassius ; Danube delta, Romania; ~ 100 mm SL.

Individual with mtDNA of Carassius gibelio ; Lower Danube, Romania; ~ 115 mm SL.

Biology. Lives about 10 years. Males reproduce for the first Carassius gibelio

time at 3 years, females at 4 years in central and eastern Common name. Prussian carp.

Europe, at 2 years in southern Europe. Spawns in May–July Diagnosis. Distinguished from C. carassius in West Asia by: at temperatures above 18°C. Individual females spawn with ● flank silvery / ● last simple anal and dorsal rays strongly serseveral males. Males follow ripe females, often with much rated/ ● 38–52gill rakers/ ○ 26–33total lateral-line scales / ● free splashing. Females spawn 3–5 times during a season. Eggs edge of dorsal concave or straight / ● usually 5½ branched anal are sticky and are attached to water plants. Omnivorous, rays / ● peritoneum black. Size up to 350 mm SL.

feeds all day but mostly at night on plankton, benthic inver- Distribution. Mitochondria of this species are found tebrates, plant material, and detritus. Seems to be a weak throughout West Asia. Often considered native from competitor, usually absent from waters with rich ichthyo- Central Europe to Siberia.As there are no historical records fauna and abundant predatory species. Very abundant in from Europe or West Asia, considered non-native to region. the absence of other fish species. High-bodied, fast-growing Native to Amur drainage in Russia and China and introindividuals in habitats with predatory fish more elongate duced in Europe with fish imported from Amur. Introduced in habitats without predatory fish. from Europe to North Africa, West Asia, and elsewhere.

Conservation status. LC. Habitat. Identical to C. auratus .

Further reading. Szczerbowski & Szczerbowski, in Biology. Usually, diploid and tetraploid individuals of both Bănărescu & Paepke, 2002 (biology). sexes, often together with triploid females. Also, all-female populations where all individuals are triploids. Triploids to water plants or other submerged objects. Feeding larvae reproduce by gynogenesis as sperm parasites of other and juveniles inhabit highly complex habitats such as reed species,such as Cyprinus carpio and various leuciscids.Lives beds. Omnivorous, feeding on plankton, benthic inverteabout 10 years. Spawns first time at 3−4 years in central and brates, plant material, and detritus.

eastern Europe,at 1−2 years in West Asia. Spawns May−July Conservation status. Non-native; introduced as a weed at temperatures above 14°C, with spawning most intensive with stocked carp.

in early morning. Older individuals spawn earlier in season Further reading. Kottelat 1997 (systematics); Vasil’ev & than younger ones. Males move to spawning sites before Vasil’eva 2000 (genetics); Szczerbowski 2002 (biology; as females. Single female spawns with several males. Males C. auratus , in part); Hänfling et al. 2005 (genetics); Kottelat follow mature female, often with much splashing. Female & Freyhof 2007 (distribution, biology); Yerli et al. 2014 spawn up to three times per season.Sticky eggs are attached (distribution).

Many thousands of small reservoirs in West Asia,as in upper Euphrates drainage, have been stocked with Carassius , making them the most widespread freshwater fish in the region.

Individual with mtDNA of Carassius langsdorfii ; Biskra, Algeria; ~ 160 mm SL.