Schizocypris altidorsalis, Bianco & Banarescu, 1982

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 242-243

Schizocypris altidorsalis

Common name. Gorgak.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of snow barbels in Iran by: ● barbels absent / ○ body fully covered by scales, 81–96 scales along lateral line / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray longer than head, spinous, strongly serrated. Size up to 351 mm SL.

Distribution. Afghanistan and Iran: Sistan basin, including Helmand drainage, Chahnime reservoirs, and Hamun Lakes.

Habitat. All kinds of permanent waterbodies, migrate to seasonal rivers and streams at high water levels to spawn.

Biology. Feed mostly on aufwuchs and detritus.

Conservation status. LC; situation in Helmand is unknown. Further reading. Bianco & Bănărescu 1982 (description); Coad & Keyzer-de Ville 2005 (identification); Coad 2021a (identification, distribution).

the Hari. These records are based on misidentifications, and our area has no documented records of these species. Schizothorax intermedius is likely restricted to the upper Indus drainage, while S. stoliczkai is widely distributed in mountain areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and western China.

As is the case with barbel eggs, the eggs of these fish are poisonous to humans. Deaths have been reported as a result of eating the eggs of Schizothorax . Severe cases present with muscular cramps, paralysis, convulsions, and coma. Victims typically recover within 3–5 days after stomach evacuation, although this may take longer. It is advisable to exercise caution when consuming fish during its breeding season, as it is important to ensure that all traces of the eggs are removed to avoid contamination of the flesh. It should be noted that cooking does not destroy the toxin. Further reading. Yang et al. 2015 (phylogeny of Cyprinidae ); Tan & Armbruster 2018 (subfamilies in Cyprinidae ).

Schizothorax pelzami ; Cheshmeh Ali Spring, Western Kavir basin, Iran; ~ 170 mm SL. © H. Mousavi-Sabet.

Schizothorax pelzami ; Hari drainage, Iran; ~ 170 mm SL. © Mousavi-Sabet.