Barbus miliaris, De Filippi, 1863

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 103-104

Barbus miliaris

Common name. Namak barbel.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Barbus in West Asia by: ○ 69−87+3−5, totally 71−90, lateral-line scales / ○ 39–44 total vertebrae / ○ postdorsal length 52–59 % SL / ○ dorsal base length 18–23 % SL / ○ anal length 7–9 % SL / ○ 28–35 scale around caudal peduncle / ○ 12–15 scales below lateral line / ○ 37–45 predorsal scales / ○ lower lip with a median swollen pad / ○ dorsal origin at or slightly behind vertical of pelvic origin / ○ numerous irregular dark-brown blotches on back, flanks and head / ○ anal longer in female than in male. Size up to 240 mm SL, usually smaller.

Distribution. Iran: Qom, Qareh Chai, and Jaj drainages in Lake Namak basin. Hable and Nam drainages and Cheshme Ali spring in Western Kavir basin.

Habitat. Slow to fast-flowing rivers with gravel and rocky bottoms.

Biology. Matures at about 2−4 years, males one year earlier than females. A fractional spawner. Feeds mainly on aquatic invertebrates and algae.

Conservation status. VU; possibly extirpated from Lake Namak basin and Cheshme Ali, now found only in small numbers in 5–10 independent, mostly declining populations in Nam and Hable in Western Kavir basin.

Further reading. De Filippi 1863 (description); Karaman 1971: (morphology; as B. mursa miliaris ); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2015b (Kavir basin); Khaefi et al. 2017a (review); Eagderi et al. 2019d (morphology).

Barbus niluferensis ; Susurluk drainage, Türkiye; 135 mm SL.