Hamid Reza Esmaeili
Shiraz University, Biology, Faculty Member
A spring-stream called “Ghadamgah” in Fars province, southern Iran, which holds more than 60 aquatic vertebrate and plant species belonging to 46 genera and 33 families is almost the biologically richest water body of Fars province. The... more
A spring-stream called “Ghadamgah” in Fars province, southern Iran, which holds more than 60 aquatic vertebrate and plant species belonging to 46 genera and 33 families is almost the biologically richest water body of Fars province. The diversity is especially in its endemic fishes which are under threats nowadays. One of the factors, if not the one, which has kept this system more or less in its natural status is the religious beliefs in this place and the rituals of indigenous believers acting as a sanction against environmental destruction for many years till recently. But now this does not retain a high priority and has become displaced by economic and political factors. Water diversion, drainage rehabilitation, water pollution, and drought, development of intensive aquaculture and introduction of non – native fish species are the main factors affecting the biological diversity of this system. Thus, conservation of this very small fragile hotspot habitat is very important.
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This study was aimed to report the presence of the genus Cobitis in the Karaj River, Namak Lake basin, Iran and clarify its taxonomic status by providing morphological characteristics, mtDNA COI barcode region and its phylogenetic... more
This study was aimed to report the presence of the genus Cobitis in the Karaj River, Namak Lake basin, Iran and clarify its taxonomic status by providing morphological characteristics, mtDNA COI barcode region and its phylogenetic relationship within the members of the genus Cobitis in Iran. The results revealed that morphometric, meristic and molecular (COI) characters of these specimen are largely overlapping or even identical with those of C. faridpaki . Therefore, we conclude that they are a population belonging to C. faridpaki .
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Barbus urmianus from the Mahabad-Chai River in Urmia Lake basin, is distinguished from its congeners in the B. lacerta group by a well-developed middle pad of the lower lip, a shorter postdorsal length (25.2–42.0 vs. 46.4–60.7% SL), long... more
Barbus urmianus from the Mahabad-Chai River in Urmia Lake basin, is distinguished from its congeners in the B. lacerta group by a well-developed middle pad of the lower lip, a shorter postdorsal length (25.2–42.0 vs. 46.4–60.7% SL), long anal fin (11.0–23.0 vs. 6.0–10.4% SL), short dorsal-fin base (9.2–15.6 vs. 16.1–22.6% SL), less scales in the caudal peduncle (14–23 vs. 25–35), and 64–85 scales on the lateral line (vs. 52–70).
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Various human pressures are affecting the aquatic biocoenosis in running waters of Iran - similar to many other areas of the world. Overall 190 sites, 88 at salmonid (44 reference/impacted respectively) and 102 at cyprinid (50... more
Various human pressures are affecting the aquatic biocoenosis in running waters of Iran - similar to many other areas of the world. Overall 190 sites, 88 at salmonid (44 reference/impacted respectively) and 102 at cyprinid (50 reference/52 impacted) streams of the southern Caspian Sea basin were investigated in terms of human pressures present and the related impact on fish assemblages. In total, 30 potential human pressure variables acting on biological communities at four different spatial scales and associated with seven pressure types (land use, connectivity disruption, morphological alteration, hydrological alteration, water quality deterioration, biological (i.e. alien species, overfishing etc.) and non-predicted pressures) were identified. Further, a regional pressure index was derived, taking additive effects of multiple pressures into account. Our analysis showed that the most dominating human pressure in both zones was land use (i.e. urbanisation in salmonid streams and ag...
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Aphanius furcatus-known as scaleless tooth-carpis a unique species of the genus Aphanius, endemic to the drainage of the Hormuzgan, Persian Gulf Basin in southern Iran. This species has not yet assessed in the list of IUCN’s Red Data... more
Aphanius furcatus-known as scaleless tooth-carpis a unique species of the genus Aphanius, endemic to the drainage of the Hormuzgan, Persian Gulf Basin in southern Iran. This species has not yet assessed in the list of IUCN’s Red Data Book. Investigation of the current distribution and estimation of the individual abundance revealed that the abundance of A. furcatus is low, and it has low population sizes in their current distribution ranges. In addition, its current habitats are under several threats due to the recent severe drought in southern Iran, contamination and habitat destruction. Therefore, immediate necessary plans should be taking into consideration to conserve this unique Aphanius species.
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This checklist aims to reviews and summarize the results of the systematic researches on the Persian Gulf ichthyofauna that has been carried out for more than 200 years. Since the work of C. Niebuhr, a Danish biologist in the 18th... more
This checklist aims to reviews and summarize the results of the systematic researches on the Persian Gulf ichthyofauna that has been carried out for more than 200 years. Since the work of C. Niebuhr, a Danish biologist in the 18th century, the number of valid species has increased significantly and the systematic status of many of the species has changed, and reorganization and updating of the published information has become essential. Here we take the opportunity to provide a new and updated checklist of fishes of Persian Gulf based on literature and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history and new fish collections. The total confirmed fish species of Persian Gulf comprise 743 species, 131 families, 444 genera and 27 orders. In the class Chondrichthyes, the most diverse family is Charcharhinidae with 23 species (41.89%), followed by Dasyatidae with 15 species (31.08%). Within the class Actinopterygii, Gobiidae with 65 species (9.70%), Carangidae with 45 species (6.27%),...
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Research Interests: Zoology, Biology, Osteology, Teleostei, Anatomy, and 4 moreAxial Skeleton, DDC, vertebral column, and Vertebra
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Genetic structure of an endemic tooth-carp fish, Aphanius farsicus from four different water bodies in the Maharlu Lake basin was investigated by applying five microsatellite markers. All of the five examined microsatellite loci showed... more
Genetic structure of an endemic tooth-carp fish, Aphanius farsicus from four different water bodies in the Maharlu Lake basin was investigated by applying five microsatellite markers. All of the five examined microsatellite loci showed polymor-phism pattern. A total of four alleles were detected at five microsatellite loci, with an average of 2.8 to 3.5 alleles per locus. Average values of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.95±0.09 and 0.64±0.02 respectively. None of the tests of linkage disequilibrium were significant between each pair of loci and no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected to test for heterozygote deficiency within populations. The Nei's genetic distance values ranged between 0.03 - 0.13. Analysis of pairwise genetic differentiation between each pair of the populations revealed that fixation index (FST) values ranged from 0.013 to 0.039 and RST ranged from 0.005 to 0.065. High genetic diversity observed within the populations (99%) and ...
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Squalius namak, new species, from the endorheic Lake Namak and Kavir basins in Iran, is distinguished from the species of the genus Squalius in the Persian Gulf and the southern Caspian Sea basins by having a wide and thick symphysial... more
Squalius namak, new species, from the endorheic Lake Namak and Kavir basins in Iran, is distinguished from the species of the genus Squalius in the Persian Gulf and the southern Caspian Sea basins by having a wide and thick symphysial knob on the lower jaw, a convex posterior anal-fin margin, a bold, dark-grey or brown, roundish or crescent-shaped blotch at the posterior tip of each flank scale and orange caudal-, anal- and pelvic-fin rays in life. Squalius namak is also characterized by four fixed, diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mtDNA COI barcode region.
Research Interests: Evolutionary Biology, Zoology, Taxonomy, Biology, Biodiversity, and 15 moreMedicine, Teleostei, Iran, Lakes, Phylogeny, Actinopterygii, Female, Animals, Male, Cypriniformes, Body Size, Ecosystem, Chordata, Cyprinidae, and Animalia
Studies of the taxonomy and present-day distribution of landlocked populations of the killifish Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Cyprinodontidae) provide a key to understanding their zoogeographic history, and shape conservation strategies and... more
Studies of the taxonomy and present-day distribution of landlocked populations of the killifish Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Cyprinodontidae) provide a key to understanding their zoogeographic history, and shape conservation strategies and habitat management. Here we report for the first time on the sympatric occurrence of the rare Mesopotamian tooth-carp A. mesopotamicus with a member of the widely distributed common tooth-carp (A. dispar group). Both were found in the Shadegan Wetland of the Mesopotamian drainage system (Southwestern Iran). External characters of individuals, otolith morphology and molecular data based on the cytochrome b gene confirm species identification. The otolith morphology of A. mesopotamicus, hitherto unknown, is strikingly similar to previously described otoliths of A. cf. pluristriatus from the Khonj stream (Southern Iran), which apparently reflects a close relationship between these recently diverged species. Several of the specimens recovered from the Shadegan Wetland showed intermediate characters in pigmentation, otolith morphology and some morphometric values. These specimens are interpreted as putative hybrids, which is additionally supported by a multivariate analysis of the morphometric data. Previous reports suggest that natural hybridization between species of Aphanius results largely from range overlap and range extension. A virtual distribution map derived from climatic modelling studies based on DIVA-GIS (7.5.0) indicates that sympatry of the A. dispar group and A. mesopotamicus is primarily determined by levels of precipitation during the warmest quarter, and is likely to occur only in Southwestern Iran.
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The genus Alburnus, which belongs to the largest teleost family, Cyprinidae, comprises 38 valid species distributed from Europe to northern parts of Southwest Asia. Herein we provide an updated list of the Alburnus seven valid species... more
The genus Alburnus, which belongs to the largest teleost family, Cyprinidae, comprises 38 valid species distributed from Europe to northern parts of Southwest Asia. Herein we provide an updated list of the Alburnus seven valid species registered from Iran.
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The diagnostic features of otolith morphology were provided for the clupeid fishes of the Iranian brackish and marine resources to be used as diagnostic features for the identification of clupeids diversity in these regions. Fish... more
The diagnostic features of otolith morphology were provided for the clupeid fishes of the Iranian brackish and marine resources to be used as diagnostic features for the identification of clupeids diversity in these regions. Fish individuals belong to 20 species belong to 13 genera, and four families were collected from the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Makran zone of the Oman Sea. Overall, seven otolith morphotypes were distinguished, that is lanceolated (45%), fusiform (20%), boot‐like (15%) and clamp‐like, pentagonal, elliptic and rectangular (each 5%, respectively). The univariate analysis showed that all variables except shape index [sulcus area (SS)/otolith area (OS)] and ROx (roundness) were significantly different among the clupeid species. The interspecific relationships of the otoliths were analysed based on the data of otolith morphology and otolith shape indices. Both dendrograms showed somehow an obvious separation among the studied species. However, the intersp...
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An evidence-based annotated checklist of gobiid species (Teleostei: Gobiidae) inhabiting the South Caspian Sea and its catchment area (i.e., the South Caspian Sea sub-basin) is compiled. The South Caspian Sea sub-basin gobiofauna... more
An evidence-based annotated checklist of gobiid species (Teleostei: Gobiidae) inhabiting the South Caspian Sea and its catchment area (i.e., the South Caspian Sea sub-basin) is compiled. The South Caspian Sea sub-basin gobiofauna currently comprises 38 confirmed species in 11 genera (i.e., 88.4% of the Caspian gobiofauna); the most diverse genus is Benthophilus (16 species, 42.1%), followed by Ponticola (seven species, 18.4%), and Neogobius (four species, 10.5%). Ten species (26.3%) are endemic to the South Caspian Sea sub-basin, another 21 species (55.3%) are endemic in the Caspian Sea basin as a whole, six (15.8%) are native to the Ponto-Caspian region, and one species (2.6%) is exotic. According to the current IUCN Red List, 24 species (64.9%) are listed as being of “Least Concern”, eight species (21.6%) are “Data Deficient”, and five species (13.5%) as “Not Evaluated”. Similar numbers of species are confirmed to inhabit the South Caspian Sea sub-basin waters of the three countri...
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Among vertebrates, hybridization is common phenomena in cyprinid fishes particularly among closely related species/genera which share common habit and habitat (niche) requirements and desires. In this paper we report presence of two... more
Among vertebrates, hybridization is common phenomena in cyprinid fishes particularly among closely related species/genera which share common habit and habitat (niche) requirements and desires. In this paper we report presence of two hybrids of Luciobarbus barbulus x Luciobarbus kersin and Luciobarbus barbulus x Luciobarbus xanthopterus from the Tigris River tributaries (the Persian Gulf basin), southwestern Iran. The hybrid specimens were identified on the basis of their intermediate morphological characteristics with the parent species and the position of them in the clade and close genetic distance with their maternal sequences. Our studies showed intermediate characteristics between putative hybrids and their parents. In the putative hybrid of L. barbulus and L. kersin, the general characteristics and morphometric measurements are similar to one parent especially paternal characteristics (L. kersin), although most of the meristic characteristics are similar to maternal characteri...
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The Iranian species of the genus Garra are reviewed, and diagnoses are presented for all recognized species. Garra gymnothorax , G. lorestanensis, G. mondica , G. nudiventris , G. persica , G. rossica , G. rufa , G. typhlops and... more
The Iranian species of the genus Garra are reviewed, and diagnoses are presented for all recognized species. Garra gymnothorax , G. lorestanensis, G. mondica , G. nudiventris , G. persica , G. rossica , G. rufa , G. typhlops and G. variabilis are considered valid. Discognathus crenulatus Heckel, 1847 is considered as a synonym of G. rufa . One new species is described, Garra amirhosseini , from the Tigris River drainage in Iran distinguished from its congeners by having 7½ branched dorsal-fin rays, breast and belly with very small scales which are fully covered by a thick epidermal layer, and 9+8 branched caudal-fin rays. Garra amirhosseini is also distinguished from all other of congeners in the Persian Gulf basin except a species without a mental disc, G. elegans , by having two fixed, diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mtDNA COI barcode region. Maximum Likelihood based estimation of the phylogenetic relationships placed the sequenced fishes into 16 groups which showed b...
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This checklist aims to list all the reported Iranian inland fishes. It lists 297 species in 109 genera, 30 families, 24 orders and 3 classes reported from different Iranian basins. However, presence of 23 reported species in Iranian... more
This checklist aims to list all the reported Iranian inland fishes. It lists 297 species in 109 genera, 30 families, 24 orders and 3 classes reported from different Iranian basins. However, presence of 23 reported species in Iranian waters needs confirmation by specimens. The most diverse order is Cypriniformes (176 species, 59.3%), followed by Gobiiformes (42 species, 14.1%), Cyprinodontiformes (19 species, 6.4%), and Clupeiformes (11 species, 3.7%). Ninety-five endemic species (32%) in 7 families and 29 exotic species (9.76%) in 11 families are listed here.
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The Iranian species of the genus Sabanejewia are reviewed based on morphological, osteological and molecular characters of the mtDNA COI barcode region. Two species, Sabanejewia aurata and Sabanejewia caspia are recognized and diagnoses... more
The Iranian species of the genus Sabanejewia are reviewed based on morphological, osteological and molecular characters of the mtDNA COI barcode region. Two species, Sabanejewia aurata and Sabanejewia caspia are recognized and diagnoses are presented for both species. They are distinguishable through body pattern, length of caudal peduncle, snout and post orbital distance, shape of scale and suborbital spine, caudal complex skeleton and also the number of fixed, diagnostic nucleotide substitutions. Here we re-describe both Iranian spined loaches.
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A new gobiid species, Benthophilus persicus sp. nov., is described from the southern Caspian Sea, Iran. The new species is diagnosed by the following character states: dermal fold on cheek well-developed, large, rectangular; chin barbel... more
A new gobiid species, Benthophilus persicus sp. nov., is described from the southern Caspian Sea, Iran. The new species is diagnosed by the following character states: dermal fold on cheek well-developed, large, rectangular; chin barbel 1/3–2/3 of eye diameter; maximum body width 15.1–22.9% of standard length; mouth width, 36.3–55.8% of head length; second dorsal fin I+7–8; origin of anal fin in front of vertical through origin of second dorsal fin; dermal tubercles present on body, clearly larger than granules, with two posterior rows of spinules forming an acute angle, always less than right angle; dorsal row of tubercles complete, 22–29; ventral row of tubercles 22–25; ventrolateral row of tubercles absent; tubercles not present on temporal and occipital head regions; granules not present on flanks; transversal suborbital row 6i below posterior end of row b; anterior interorbital transversal row pa with one or two papillae and anterior interorbital transversal papilla row pp with...
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Capoeta anamisensis, from the Minab and Hasal Langhi River drainages in southern Iran, belongs to the C. trutta species group. Capoeta anamisensis is distinguished from other species of the C. trutta species group by the combination of... more
Capoeta anamisensis, from the Minab and Hasal Langhi River drainages in southern Iran, belongs to the C. trutta species group. Capoeta anamisensis is distinguished from other species of the C. trutta species group by the combination of the following characters: flank silvery without black spots; 56-67 scales in total along the lateral series; 11-12 scales above the lateral line and 21-25 gill rakers. Capoeta anamisensis is also distinguished from all other congeners in the Persian Gulf basin by having four fixed, diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mtDNA COI barcode region and five fixed, diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mtDNA cyt b region. The type of Capoeta barroisi persica is identified as an aberrant individual of C. trutta and is considered as a synonym of that species.
Research Interests: Evolutionary Biology, Zoology, Biology, Rivers, Medicine, and 9 moreDNA Barcoding, Teleostei, Iran, Phylogeny, Female, Animals, Male, Body Size, and Cyprinidae
The karyotypes of five tooth-carps of Iran, Aphanius persicus, Aphanius sophiae, Aphanius dispar, and Aphanius sp. have been investigated by examining metaphase chromosomes spreads obtained from gill epithelial and kidney cells. The... more
The karyotypes of five tooth-carps of Iran, Aphanius persicus, Aphanius sophiae, Aphanius dispar, and Aphanius sp. have been investigated by examining metaphase chromosomes spreads obtained from gill epithelial and kidney cells. The diploid chromosome numbers of all five species were 2n=48. The karyotypes consisted of 8 pairs of submetacentric and 16 pairs of subtelocentric chromosomes in A. persicus; 4 submetacentric and 20 subtelocentric in A. sophiae; 7 submetacentric and 17 subtelocentric in Aphanius ginaonis and 8 submetacentric and 16 subtelocentric in A. dispar. It was 16 metacentric, 1 submetacentric and 7 telocentric chromosome pairs in Aphanius sp. specimen. The arm numbers were 32, 28, 31 and 32 in A. persicus, A. sophiae, A. ginaonis and A. dispar, respectively. It was 41 in Aphanius sp. Sex chromosomes were cytologically indistinguishable in these tooth-carps. Cluster analysis revealed the closeness of A. sophiae and A. persicus. According to our data A. ginaonis is related to a group of A. sophiae+A. persicus+A. dispar.
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The Hormuz River System (HRS) is located in the southern coastal plain of the Zagros Mountains. Two main river drainages i.e., Mehran and Kol are known from this region, which are directly discharged to the Persian Gulf. The HRS has... more
The Hormuz River System (HRS) is located in the southern coastal plain of the Zagros Mountains. Two main river drainages i.e., Mehran and Kol are known from this region, which are directly discharged to the Persian Gulf. The HRS has surprising diversity for tooth-carp fishes (family Aphaniidae). The present study aims to accentuate this notable diversity and discuss the possible cause of diversification of the tooth-carps in the HRS. To date, 15 Aphaniid species have been discovered from the Iranian drainage basins. Among them, 10 species belong to the genus Aphanius , four species belong to the genus Aphaniops , and a single species belonging to the genus Paraphanius . The HRS by having four species (22% of the Iranian tooth-carps) demonstrated the highest diversity among the other Iranian basins. Of these, one belongs to the genus Aphanius ( A. darabensis ) and three species belong to the genus Aphaniops ( A. furcatus , A. ginaonis, and A. hormuzensis ). By considering the degree ...
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Abstract: This study presents, a comprehensive dataset that documents and provides a new and updated checklist of the freshwater fishes of the poorly known area of Iran including Makran and Mashkid River basins in the east and south... more
Abstract: This study presents, a comprehensive dataset that documents and provides a new and updated checklist of the freshwater fishes of the poorly known area of Iran including Makran and Mashkid River basins in the east and south eastern Iran. The list is based on historical literature records and taxon occurrence data obtained as a result of extensive field expeditions, examination of ichthyological collections and literature review. The total confirmed and recently not confirmed freshwater fish species of the Makran and Mashkid basins comprise 28 species in 21 genera, 9 families, 6 orders and one class. The most diverse order is the Cypriniformes with 17 species (60.71%) followed by Gobiiformes with 4 species (14.28%), Cyprinodontiformes (3 species, 10.71%), Perciformes (2 species, 7.14%) and Gonorynchiformes and Mugiliformes each with 1 species (each, 3.57%). New species are supposed to be discovered, the taxonomic status of some species has been changed, some are being resurr...
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This study presents the first details on morphological and histological characteristics of gonads, gonadal development stages and reproductive index of the Persian loach, Oxynoemacheilus persa (Heckel, 1847), an Iranian endemic species.... more
This study presents the first details on morphological and histological characteristics of gonads, gonadal development stages and reproductive index of the Persian loach, Oxynoemacheilus persa (Heckel, 1847), an Iranian endemic species. Sampling was done from April 2010 to April 2011 using electrofishing device and a total of 196 individuals were collected. The gonads of specimens were removed, their sexes determined and then were fixed in 10% formalin solution after checking their morphology and measuring their weights, lengths and widths. Based on the size, shape and weight of the gonads, degree of occupation of the body cavity, presence or absence of ripe oocytes or milt, diameter of the oocytes in the ovary, and histological observations, five stages of sexual maturation in females and four stages in males were determined by macroscopic and microscopic criteria. The results of the gonadal stages showed that the O. persa spawns in the middle of spring and these stages were correl...
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Geographically isolated populations of Barbus present remarkable variation with regard to morphometric and meristic characters within Iranian drainage systems; while they are relatively similar in external morphology such as coloration.... more
Geographically isolated populations of Barbus present remarkable variation with regard to morphometric and meristic characters within Iranian drainage systems; while they are relatively similar in external morphology such as coloration. Present study is the first report on geographical differentiation of Barbus populations in Iran from both morphological and molecular point of views. The morphometric and meristic characters as well as phylogenetic relationships (using sequence data of mtDNA cytochrome b gene) of twelve populations from three drainages (i.e. South Caspian Sea, Orumyieh and TigrisKaroun) were analyzed. The univariate analysis reveals significant morphological differentiation among the populations from the three drainages. The phylogenetic analyses indicate relatively high genetic differentiation among the populations from the mentioned drainages, which are consistent with the observed morphological variation, and correspond well with their biogeographic distribution. ...
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Fish biodiversity investigation in Urmia basin which is a part of Irano-Anatolian hot spot aimed to determine the state of fish in this endorheic basin. Based on the obtained results, freshwater fish species of the Urmia basin comprise 29... more
Fish biodiversity investigation in Urmia basin which is a part of Irano-Anatolian hot spot aimed to determine the state of fish in this endorheic basin. Based on the obtained results, freshwater fish species of the Urmia basin comprise 29 species in 25 genera, 7 families, 5 orders and one class. The most diverse order is the Cypriniformes with 23 species (79.31%) followed by Salmoniformes and Perciformes each with two species (2 species, 6.9%), Siluriformes and Cyprinodontiformes each with one species (1 species, 3.45%). The most diverse family is the Cyprinidae with 20 species (69%), Nemacheilidae (3 species, 10.3%), Salmonidae (2 species, 6.9%) followed by, Siluridae, Poeciliidae, Percidae and Gobiidae each with only one species (3.45 %). This basin comprises five endemic species to the basin itself (only found in Urmia basin, 17.24%) and 11 exotic species (37.93%). Zarrineh River had high species diversity and Sufi and Shahri Rivers had low species diversity. The fish composition...
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This study provide a new and updated checklist of the freshwater fishes of the Dasht-e Kavir basin of Iran. The list is based on historical literature records and taxon occurrence data obtained as a result of extensive field expeditions,... more
This study provide a new and updated checklist of the freshwater fishes of the Dasht-e Kavir basin of Iran. The list is based on historical literature records and taxon occurrence data obtained as a result of extensive field expeditions, examination of ichthyological collections and literature review. The total confirmed freshwater fish species of the Dasht-e Kavir basin comprise 22 species in 17 genera, 6 families, 4 orders and one class. The most diverse order is the Cypriniformes with 18 species (81.82%) followed by Cyprinodontiformes (2 species, 9.09%), Salmoniformes and Gasterosteiformes each with 1 species (1 species, 4.55%). The most diverse family is the Cyprinidae with 18 species (72.73%), Nemacheilidae (2 species, 9.09%) followed by Salmonidae, Cyprinodontidae, Poeciliidae and Gasterosteidae each with only one species (4.55%). New species are supposed to be discovered, the taxonomic status of some species has been changed, some are being resurrected from synonym...
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This checklist aims to reviews and summarize the results of the systematic and zoogeographical research on the Iranian inland ichthyofauna that has been carried out for more than 200 years. Since the work of J.J. Heckel (1846-1849), the... more
This checklist aims to reviews and summarize the results of the systematic and zoogeographical research on the Iranian inland ichthyofauna that has been carried out for more than 200 years. Since the work of J.J. Heckel (1846-1849), the number of valid species has increased significantly and the systematic status of many of the species has changed, and reorganization and updating of the published information has become essential. Here we take the opportunity to provide a new and updated checklist of freshwater fishes of Iran based on literature and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history and new fish collections. This article lists 288 species in 107 genera, 28 families, 22 orders and 3 classes reported from different Iranian basins. However, presence of 23 reported species in Iranian waters needs confirmation by specimens. The most diverse order is Cypriniformes (171 species, 59.40%), followed by Gobiiformes (42 species, 14.60%), Cyprinodontiformes (17 species, 5.90%), ...
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This study provides new data on chromosomal characteristics and DNA barcoding of three endemic loaches of Iran: spiny southern loach Cobitis linea (Heckel, 1847), Persian stream loach Oxynoemacheilus persa (Heckel, 1848) and Tongiorgi... more
This study provides new data on chromosomal characteristics and DNA barcoding of three endemic loaches of Iran: spiny southern loach Cobitis linea (Heckel, 1847), Persian stream loach Oxynoemacheilus persa (Heckel, 1848) and Tongiorgi stream loach Oxynoemacheilus tongiorgii (Nalbant & Bianco, 1998). The chromosomes of these fishes were investigated by examining metaphase chromosome spreads obtained from epithelial gill and kidney cells. The diploid chromosome numbers of all three species were 2n=50. The karyotypes of C. linea consisted of 4M + 40SM + 6ST, NF=94; of O. persa by 20M + 22SM + 8ST, NF=90 and of O. tongiorgii by 18M + 24SM + 8ST, NF= 92. Sex chromosomes were cytologically indistinguishable in these loaches. Maximum likelihood-based estimation of the phylogenetic relationships based on the COI barcode region clearly separates the three Iranian loach species of the Kor River basin. All species distinguished by morphological characters were recovered as monophyletic clades ...
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This checklist aims to list all the reported cyprinodontid fishes (superfamily Cyprinodontoidea/pupfishes) of the world. It lists 141 species in 8 genera and 4 families. The most diverse family is Cyprinodontidae (54 species, 38%),... more
This checklist aims to list all the reported cyprinodontid fishes (superfamily Cyprinodontoidea/pupfishes) of the world. It lists 141 species in 8 genera and 4 families. The most diverse family is Cyprinodontidae (54 species, 38%), followed by Orestiidae (45 species, 32%), Aphaniidae (39 species, 28%), and Cubanichthyidae (3 species, 2%). Among 141 listed species, 73 (51.8%) species are Not Evaluated (NE), 15 (10.6%) Least Concern (LC), 9 (6.4%) Vulnerable (VU), 3 (2.1%) Data Deficient (DD), 11 (7.8%) Critically Endangered (CR), 4 (2.8%) Near Threatened (NT), 18 (12.8%) Endangered (EN), 3 (2.1%) Extinct in the Wild (EW) and 5 (3.5%) Extinct of the Red List of IUCN. They inhabit in the fresh, brackish and marine waters of the United States, Middle America, the West Indies, parts of northern South America, North Africa, the Mediterranean Anatolian region, coastal areas of the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea (Oman Sea), the northern Arabian Sea east to Gujarat in India, and some endorheic ...
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The distribution of the Persian bleak, Alburnus hohenackeri Kessler, 1870 in Iran is described. During a survey from 2009 to 2012, we captured 30 specimens of A. hohenackeri from Choghakhor Wetland in Tigris River basin and Kardeh Dam in... more
The distribution of the Persian bleak, Alburnus hohenackeri Kessler, 1870 in Iran is described. During a survey from 2009 to 2012, we captured 30 specimens of A. hohenackeri from Choghakhor Wetland in Tigris River basin and Kardeh Dam in Harirud River basin of Iran. This is the first report of the occurrence of this species in these localities. The main distribution range in Iran is the southern part of the Caspian Sea from where it has been translocated to the other Iranian basins along with exotic Chinese carps.
Research Interests: Ichthyology, Geography, Teleostei, Wetland, Fishery, and 3 moreCheck List, Cyprinidae, and Drainage basin
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Background Knowledge about Alburnoides remains lacking relative to many other species, resulting in a lack of a systematic position and taxonomic diagnosis. Basic biological information for Alburnoides has been constructed, and it is... more
Background Knowledge about Alburnoides remains lacking relative to many other species, resulting in a lack of a systematic position and taxonomic diagnosis. Basic biological information for Alburnoides has been constructed, and it is necessary to understand further and obtain more information about this species. Its phylogenetic relationships are still debated and no molecular data have been used to study this taxon in Iran. A holistic approach for genetic methods was adopted to analyze possible spirlin population differences at selected centers in the south Caspian Sea basin of Iran. Methods The phylogenetic relationships were determined based on 774 base pairs of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 32 specimens of spirlin from nine locations in the south Caspian Sea drainage basin of Iran. The nucleotide sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Results The mitochondrial gene tree l...
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Iran harbors a native and highly endemic inland ichthyofauna which is being threatened by an increasing number of exotic fishes receiving from different geographic realms including the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. Here, the... more
Iran harbors a native and highly endemic inland ichthyofauna which is being threatened by an increasing number of exotic fishes receiving from different geographic realms including the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. Here, the Neotropical and Nearctic fish elements within the Iranian freshwater ecosystems, including 7 species belonging to 6 genera and 4 families, are listed, their distribution ranges are given, new records for Poecilia latipinna (Poeciliidae) are documented and approaches to future research and management strategies are suggested. Based on presented data, the eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki has a wide distribution range while the alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula and red-bellied pacu, Piaractus brachypomus have been restricted to one locality in the Tigris River drainages. Till date, all introduced species, except Atractosteus spatula and Piaractus brachypomus , have established breeding populations and act as invasive species. Control of malaria and or...
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Goatfishes (Teleostei, Mullidae) are a group of mainly coastal fishes that form an important part of food chains, and also have commercial value. In the marine waters of Iran, they are found in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Gulf of... more
Goatfishes (Teleostei, Mullidae) are a group of mainly coastal fishes that form an important part of food chains, and also have commercial value. In the marine waters of Iran, they are found in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Gulf of Oman). This study evaluated whether otolith morphology can be used to distinguish of species and genera, and also to interpret whether otoliths of the same species differ among two studied marine systems. To do this objective, the otolith morphology of ten species belonging to three genera were analyzed by SEM photography and shape analysis. Among the morphometric variables, relative rostrum length was found to be the most important otolith variable for discriminating Mulloidichthys (RRL = 32.29 ± 0.59) and Parupeneus (RRL = 37.39 ± 1.10), while rectangularity (REx) was the most important shape index for discriminating Mulloidichthys (REx = 0.99 ± 1.94) from Parupeneus (REx = 0.77 ± 1.21). By considering otolith morphology, Upeneus showed a better separa...
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The endemic Persian Gulf herring, Herklotsichthys lossei, has similar characteristics with other congeners, especially H. punctatus, which makes it difficult to recognize. Freshly collected samples from the type locality of H. lossei... more
The endemic Persian Gulf herring, Herklotsichthys lossei, has similar characteristics with other congeners, especially H. punctatus, which makes it difficult to recognize. Freshly collected samples from the type locality of H. lossei assign morphologically to H. lossei, described by Wongratana in having a dark blotch on the dorsal fin and small dark spots on the flank. However, all the studied materials have a series of black spots along the back and both sides of dorsal–fin base which was not mentioned by Wongratana and was not found in the examined type materials deposited in Natural History Museum, London. Based on the available molecular data (mtCOI) for six species of Herklotsichthys, it is clear that the genus is not monophyletic. Herklotsichthys dispilonotus, H. punctatus and H. lossei make a sister lineage to other congeneric species including H. quadrimaculatus, H. lippa and H. spilurus and also with several phylogenetically distantly related genera Sardinella, Harengula, Amblygaster, Nematalosa, Anodontostoma, Alosa, Clupea and Clupeonella. This situation makes the taxonomic status of clupeid genera, especially Herklotsichthys more complicated. As H. dispilonotus the type species of the genus Herklotsichthys is nested with H. lossei and H. punctaus, these three species remain in the same genus and three others, H. quadrimaculatus, H. lippa and H. spilurus form a distinct genera.