Capoeta razii, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Eagderi, Ghanavi & Doadrio, 2017

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 138-139

Capoeta razii

Common name. Elbrus scraper.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Capoeta in Caspian basin by: ○ 46–54 total lateral-line scales / ○ 18 or more predorsal scales / ○ less than 44 total vertebrae / ○ usually 8½ branched dorsal rays / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray strong, with 15–25 serrae along its posterior edge / ○ 7–9 scales between dorsal origin and lateral line / ○ 6–7 scales between anal origin and lateral line. Size up to 300 mm SL.

Distribution. Azerbaijan and Iran: Atrak west to coastal rivers south of Kura estuary. Also, (possibly introduced) in upper Gamasiab (Karkheh drainage), Nam (Western Kavir basin), and Jaj in Lake Namak basin.

Habitat. A wide range of moderately to rapidly flowing streams and rivers with sand, gravel or rock bottoms.

Biology. Lives up to 10 years. Spawns April−July. Males mature at 2 years, females at 2−3 years. Eggs are adhesive

Capoeta saadii ; Kol drainage, Iran; ~ 100 mm SL.

and laid in gravel. Feeds on detritus, periphyton and invertebrates.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. This species is usually identified as C. gracilis , described from the Zayandeh drainage in Iran (a synonym of C. aculeata ). Both species are well differentiated. Capoeta razii occurs geographically adjacent to C. capoeta , and both species are almost indistinguishable by published morphological characters. Only molecular characters allow these species to be differenciated. Fish identified as C. razii by mtDNA has been found in Aras drainage, where only C. capoeta and C. kaput should occur. Hybrids between different Capoeta species are expected to occur in that region. Further reading. Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2017b (description); Zareian et al. 2017 (phylogeny, morphology); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2020 (distribution); Koohestan Eskandari, 2003 (biology).

Capoeta saadii ; Kor drainage, Iran; 192 mm SL. Capoeta are dominant in biomass in many rivers in West Asia as here in the Kor in Iran, a habitat of Capoeta saadii and C. aculeata .