Cyprinion macrostomum, Heckel, 1843

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 166-167

Cyprinion macrostomum

Common name. Largemouth lotak.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cyprinion in Persian Gulf and Iranian endorheic basins by: ○ mouth wide, with sharp cutting edge on lower jaw, without papillious central pad on lower lip / ○ pelvic origin behind dorsal origin / ○ no large lateral lobes on lower lip / ○ no orange spots along lateral line / ○ 13−21 gill rakers / ○ 39−45, usually 40−44, total lateral-line scales / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray long, thick, flexible only on very tip, usually serrated along almost entire length / ○ posterior dorsal margin moderately to markedly concave / ○ 13−16½, rarely 17½, branched dorsal rays. Size up to 300 mm SL.

Distribution. Qweiq, Euphrates, Tigris and Karun drainages. Also, in Gulf basin south to Zohreh.

Habitat. Ubiquitous species found in almost all types of habitats, from very small streams to large rivers, including backwaters and reservoirs, from where it migrates into tributaries to spawn in rapids and riffles. Often very abundant in small streams, especially if moderately polluted.

Biology. Lives up to 7 years, spawns first time at second or third year at about 100 mm SL. Spawns May−June, some into July. Eggs are laid in gravel in riffles. Feeds on epilithic algae, detritus, and plant material scraped from hard surfaces such as stones, wood, or plants.

Conservation status. LC; extirpated from Qweiq.

Remarks. Record from Orontes based on one individual reportedly collected from Lake Amik in 1881. With no further records of this hardy and ubiquitous species, it is very likely that this individual was either mislabelled or the fish was transported from the Euphrates to a fish market at Lake Amik.

Cyprinion mhalense ; Wadi Turabah, Saudi Arabia; 49 mm SL. © F. Krupp.