Capoeta ferdowsii, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Eagderi, Murillo-Ramos, Ghanavi & Doadrio, 2017

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 131-133

Capoeta ferdowsii

Common name. Zohreh scraper.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Capoeta in Karkheh, Karun and Zohreh drainages by: ○ flank beige, golden or brown without small black spots, juveniles and some adults individuals with large black blotches / ○ usually 9½ branched dorsal rays / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray shorter than head, weakly ossified and serrated / ○ 71–80 lateral-line scales / ○ 13–17 scales between dorsal origin and lateral line / ○ 8–11 scales between anal origin and lateral line / ○ 26–30 encircling least circumference of caudal

peduncle / ○ 13–15 gill rakers, 10–12 on lower limb / ○ no groove in front of nares / ○ head depth at eye 90–102 % of postorbital length. Size up to 170 mm SL, likely to grow much larger.

Distribution. Iran: Zohreh, Jarrahi, and Fahlian drainages.

Habitat. Medium to fast-flowing rivers with sand, gravel, or mud substrate.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Further reading. Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2017c (description); Zareian & Esmaeili 2017 (description).

Large, free-flowing rivers support a diverse fish fauna. The Aras at the border between Azerbaijan and Iran hosts Capoeta capoeta and C. kaput . Capoeta fusca ; Qanat-e Segonbadan, Iran; 124 mm SL.

Capoeta fusca Habitat. A wide range of small to large desert streams, springs, Common name. Qanat scraper. qanats and canals. Habitats are often very small and isolated.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Capoeta Biology. Lives up to 6 years. Spawns March−August, fracin Iranian endorheic basins by: ○ 7½ branched dorsal tional spawning. Feeds on plants and filamentous algae, rays / ○ usually 42–50 total lateral-line scales / ○ usually occasionally on invertebrates.

11–15 gill rakers / ○ one pair of barbels / ○ last unbranched Conservation status. LC; although the species is widedorsal ray soft with few fine serrae along proximal half spread, its habitats are usually very small and under severe / ○ flank beige, golden, or brown without small black water stress.

spots, juveniles and some adult individuals with large Remarks. Scales on the belly and lower flank are deeply black blotches. Size up to 180 mm SL, likely to grow embedded in skin in some individuals or populations. This larger. species is very closely related to C. aculeata .

Distribution. Sistan basin in Afghanistan. Atrak drainage, Further reading. Johari et al. 2009 (biology); Patimar & North and South Bejestan, Eastern Kavir, Gonabad, and Lut Mohammadzadeh 2011 (biology); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. basins in Iran. 2020 (distribution); Coad 2021a (biology, morphology).

Capoeta heratensis ; Kalat, Iran; about 150 mm SL.© H. Mousavi-Sabet.

Capoeta heratensis Habitat. A wide range of streams and rivers, including res- Common name. Central Asian scraper. ervoirs and lakes, from which it migrates into tributaries Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Capoeta in to spawn.

Iranian endorheic basins by: ● usually two pairs of barbels Biology. Lives for 8 years, probably longer, reported to / ○ 50–61 total lateral-line scales / ○ 17–22 gill rakers / mature at 2−4 years and 100 mm (probably TL). Small ○ usually 8½ branched dorsal rays / ○ 8–11 scales between spawners appear to be all males. Spawns April−August at dorsal origin and lateral line / ○ 7–8 scales between anal temperatures between 16 and 23°C ( Uzbekistan) on gravel origin and lateral line / ○ 7–10 scales between pelvic origin bottoms. Fractional spawners, females spawn more than and lateral line / ○ back behind head and in front of dorsal once in a season.

origin not or very slightly compressed / ○ last unbranched Conservation status. LC.

dorsal ray strong, with many serrae. Size up to 292 mm SL. Remarks. Individuals with three or two barbels are common Distribution. Hari drainage in Iran, Afghanistan, and in some populations. Capoeta steindachneri is a synonym.

Turkmenistan. In Morghab, Karakum Canal, and Kopetdag Further reading. Berg 1949b (morphology, distribution); streams in Turkmenistan, Zeravshan, and Amu Darja in Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2017b (morphology); Zareian et al. Central Asia. 2017 (phylogeny, morphology).

Capoeta kaput ; Aras, Iran; ~ 300 mm SL.