Capoeta coadi, Alwan, Zareian & Esmaeili, 2016

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 126-128

Capoeta coadi

Common name. Karun scraper.

Diagnosis: Distinguished from other species of Capoeta in Karkheh, Karun, Zohreh and endorheic Zayandeh drainages by: ○ usually 9½ branched dorsal rays / ○ one pair of barbels / ○ flank beige, golden or brown without small black spots, juveniles and some adults individuals with large black blotches / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray weakly ossified and serrated / ○ 14–18 gill rakers, 10–13 gill rakers on lower limb / ○ 65–84 total scales along lateral line / ○ 12–17 scales between lateral line and dorsal origin / ○ 9–11 scales between lateral line and pelvic origin / ○ 25–32 circumpeduncular scales / ○ a deep groove in front of nares. Size up to 280 mm SL.

Distribution. Iran: Karun drainage and Esfahan basin.

Biology. Females live up to 10 years, males up to 6; usually 4−5 years. Spawns between March and September. Fractional spawner, individual females may spawn up to three times a year. Feeds mainly on detritus and periphyton.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. As with many barbels, the eggs are toxic and even inadequately cleaned fish can be dangerous to humans. Capoeta ekmekciae from the easternmost Black Sea basin (Çoruh in Türkiye northeast to Rioni in Georgia) and C. sevangi from Lake Sevan in Armenia are synonyms. The geographical boundaries between this species and C. razii south of Kura are unclear, and hybrids are expected to occur there and potentially in Aras.

Further reading. Berg 1949b (distribution, biology); Bănărescu 1999b (biology); Turan et al. 2006b ( Capoeta ekmekciae ); Zareian et al. 2017 (phylogeny, morphology); Kuljanishvili et al. 2020 (distribution, C. ekmekciae and C. sevangi as synonyms); Çiçek et al. 2022 ( C. ekmekciae as a synonym).

Habitat. Moderate or fast-flowing rivers, usually with gravel substrate and clear water.

Biology. Lives up to 10 years. Males mature at 2 years, females at 3−6 years. Spawns May−June. Feeds on periphyton.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Capoeta birunii from the Zayandeh drainage is a synonym.

Further reading. Alwan 2010 (morphology, phylogeny); Alwan et al. 2016a (description); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2016a (phylogeny); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2017b (phylogeny, morphology); Zareian & Esmaeili 2017 (description of C. birunii ); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2020 (distribution, C. birunii as a synonym of C. coadi ); Coad 2021a (biology, morphology); Jouladeh-Roudbar 2022 ( C. birunii as a synonym of C. coadi ).

Capoeta damascina ; Barada spring, Damascus basin, Syria; 163 mm SL.

Capoeta damascina ; Ceyhan drainage, Türkiye; 187 mm SL. Capoeta damascina ; Dez in Karun drainage, Iran; 194 mm SL.

Capoeta damascina ( Capoeta umbla morphotype); Tigris, Türkiye; ~ 320 mm SL.