Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Checklist of Freshwater Fishes of Southwestern Wetlands of Iran

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Southern Iraq's Marshes

Part of the book series: Coastal Research Library ((COASTALRL,volume 36))

Abstract

In our time, freshwater biological diversity is under different heavy anthropogenic and natural pressures, and therefore, obtaining information and monitoring of ecosystems and freshwater species under the threats should be considered as a routine work for conservation management planning. The regularly obtained information on species diversity and distribution has a great potential to act as a tool for the prioritization of conservation and management efforts in highly international important water bodies such as wetlands especially in the dried area. Study of two wetlands in southwestern Iran (Shadegan and Haur Al-Azim Wetlands) reveals presence of 37 species belonging to 30 genera, 13 families, and 8 orders. The ichthyofaunas of both wetlands are dominated by cyprinid species. They have also experienced accidentally or intentionally introductions of alien /non-native fish species. Presently, there are 11 (34.4% of the fish fauna) and 10 (31.3% of the fish fauna) introduced species in the Shadegan and Haur Al-Azim Wetlands, respectively. Xenocyprididae with four exotic species (36.4% of non-native fishes) is ranked the first and is followed by Cichlidae, Cyprinidae, and Poeciliidae, each with two species (18.2%) and Heteropneustidae with one species (9.1%). The alien species, Carassius auratus, Hemiculter leucisculus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Coptodon zillii, Oreochromis aureus, and G. holbrooki have established breeding populations. Currently, the region is facing oil and other developmental projects, modernization, dam construction, hydropower plant developments, overfishing, channelization, and intentional or accidental introduction of exotic elements. These resulted in strong impacts on the population size, species diversity, genetic diversity, and natural function of freshwater ecosystems of the whole region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abell R, Thieme ML, Revenga C, Bryer M, Kottelat M, Bogutskaya N et al (2008) Freshwater ecoregions of the world: A new map of biogeographic units for freshwater biodiversity conservation. Bioscience 58(5):403–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Abulheni AJ, Abbas LM (2017) First record of the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Euphrates River at Al-Hindia barrage–middle of Iraq. J Kerbala Univ 2017:18–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Faisal AJ, Mutlak FM (2014) First record of the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), from the Shatt Al-Arab River, South Iraq. Mesop J Mar Sci 29(1):45–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Hilli MRA, Warner BG, Asada T, Douabul A (2009) An assessment of vegetation and environmental controls in the 1970s of the Mesopotamian wetlands of southern Iraq. Wetlands Ecol Manage 17(3):207–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Nasiri SK, Hoda SMS (1976) A guide to the freshwater fishes of Iraq. Basrah Natural History Museum Publication, Basrah, 124p

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Thahaibawi BMH, Younis KH, Al-Mayaly IK (2019) Fish assemblage structure in Al-Huwaizah marsh southern of Iraq after inscribed on the World Heritage List. Iraqi J Sci 60:1430–1441

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Zaidy KJ (2013) First record of Tilapia zillii (Gewais, 1848) in AL-Delmj Marsh West AL-Diwania city middle of Iraq. Diyala Agric Sci J 5(1):9–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Attee RS, Jassem AK, Al Heni A, Khalifa SZ (2017) Description of the growth of Nile tilapia (Linnaeus, 1758) Oreochromis niloticus in the Tigris River south of Baghdad. International J Chem Tech Res 10(9):1093–1102

    Google Scholar 

  • Betancur RR, Wiley EO, Arratia G, Acero A, Bailly N, Miya M et al (2017) Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes. BMC Evol Biol 17(1):162

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogutskaya NG, Coad BW (2009) A review of vertebral and fin-ray counts in the genus Alburnoides (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) with a description of six new species. Zoosystematica Rossica 18(1):126–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson BR, Ausseil AGE, Gerbeaux P (2013) Wetland ecosystem services. In: Ecosystem services in New Zealand: Conditions and trends. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, pp. 192–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Coad BW (1982) A new genus and species of cichlid endemic to southern Iran. Copeia 1982 (1):28–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coad B (2009) A new species of tooth-carp, Aphanius mesopotamicus, from Iran and Iraq (Actinopterygii, Cyprinodontidae). ZooKeys 31:149–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coad BW (2017) Review of the freshwater mullets of Iran (Family Mugilidae). Iran J Ichthyol 4(2):75–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Costanza R, d’Arge R, De Groot R, Farber S, Grasso M, Hannon B et al (1997) The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387(6630):253–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dise NB (2009) Peatland response to global change. Science 326:810–811

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dudgeon D, Arthington AH, Gessner MO, Kawabata ZI, Knowler DJ, Lévêque C, Naiman RJ, Prieur-Richard AH, Soto D, Stiassny ML, Sullivan CA (2006) Freshwater biodiversity: importance, threats, status and conservation challenges. Biol Rev 81(2):163–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott M, Whitfield AK, Potter IC, Blaber SJ, Cyrus DP, Nordlie FG, Harrison TD (2007) The guild approach to categorizing estuarine fish assemblages: A global review. Fish and Fisheries 8 (3):241–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeili HR, Teimori A, Feridon OWFI, Abbasi K, Brian WC (2014a) Alien and invasive freshwater fish species in Iran: Diversity, environmental impacts and management. Iran J Ichthyol 1(2):61–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeili HR, Masoudi M, Mehraban HR (2014b) Assignment of Acanthopagrus populations in the Persian Gulf drainage system of Iran to Acanthopagrus arabicus Iwatsuki, 2013 (Perciformes: Sparidae). Iran J Ichthyol 1(1):23–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeili HR, Sayyadzadeh G, Seehausen O (2016) Iranocichla persa, a new cichlid species from southern Iran (Teleostei, Cichlidae). ZooKeys 636:141–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeili HR, Mehraban H, Abbasi K, Keivany Y, Brian WC (2017a) Review and updated checklist of freshwater fishes of Iran: Taxonomy, distribution and conservation status. Iran J Ichthyol 4(Suppl. 1):1–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeili HR, Masoudi M, Chermahini MA, Esmaeili AH, Zarei F, Ebrahimi M (2017b) Invasion of the Neotropical and Nearctic fishes to Iran. FishTaxa 2(3):126–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeili HR, Sayyadzadeh G, Eagderi S, Abbasi K (2018) Checklist of freshwater fishes of Iran. FishTaxa 3(3):1–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeili HR, Teimori A, Zarei F, Sayyadzadeh G (2020) DNA barcoding and species delimitation of the Old World tooth-carps, family Aphaniidae Hoedeman, 1949 (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). PLoS One 15(4):e0231717

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke R, Eschmeyer WN, Van der Laan R (Eds) (2020) Eschmeyer’s Catalog of fishes: Genera, species, references. Retrieved from http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashemi SAR, Ansary H (2012) Biomass and production of fish species in the Shadegan wetland, Iran. Global Veterinaria 9:123–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashemi SA, Ghorbani R, Kymaram F, Hossini SA, Eskandari G, Hedayati A (2015) Fish species composition, distribution and abundance in Shadegan Wetland. Fish Aquac J 6(2):1000128

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaller MD, Kelso WE, Trexler JC (2013) Wetland fish monitoring and assessment. In: Wetland techniques. Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 197–263

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Keivany Y, Alavi-Yeganeh MS, Seyfabadi J (2012) A new record confirms the occurrence of Aphanius mesopotamicus Coad, 2009, in southwestern Iran (Actinopterygii: Cyprinodontidae). Check List 8(2):283–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khaefi R, Esmaeili HR, Chermahini MA (2018) Natural hybridization of Luciobarbus barbulus x Luciobarbus kersin and Luciobarbus barbulus x Luciobarbus xanthopterus in the Persian Gulf Basin. Turk J Fish Aquat Sci 18(12):1399–1407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khaefi R, Esmaeili HR, Zareian H, Babaei S (2014) The first record of the redbelly tilapia, Tilapia zillii Gervais, 1848 in freshwaters of Iran. Turk J Zool 38:96–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Khosravi M, Abdoli A, Ahmadzadeh F, Saberi-Pirooz R, Rylková K, Kiabi BH (2020) Toward a preliminary assessment of the diversity and origin of cyprinid fish genus Carassius in Iran. J Appl Ichthyol 36(4):422–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuljanishvili T, Epitashvili G, Freyhof J, Japoshvili B, Kalous L, Levin B et al (2020) Checklist of the freshwater fishes of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. J Appl Ichthyol 36(4):501–514

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotfi A (2016) Shadegan wetland (Islamic Republic of Iran). In: Finlayson C, Milton G, Prentice R, Davidson N (eds) The wetland book. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Masoudi M, Esmaeili HR, Teimori A, Gholami Z, Gholamhosseini A, Sayyadzadeh G et al (2016) Sympatry and possible hybridization among species of the killifish genus Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) in Southwestern Iran. Limnologica 59:10–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitsch WJ, Bernal B, Hernandez ME (2015) Ecosystem services of wetlands. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management 11:1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed ARM, Al-Wan SM (2020a) Biological aspects of an invasive species of Oreochromis niloticus in the Garmat Ali River, Basrah, Iraq. J Agric Vet Sci 13(2):15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed ARM, Al-Wan SM (2020b) Evaluation of biological characters of the invasive species, Coptodon zillii in the Garmat Ali River, Basrah, Iraq. Int J Fish Aquat Stud 8(2):176–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed ARM, Hussain NA, Al-Noor SS, Mutlak FM, Al-Sudani IM, Mojer AM et al (2008) Fish assemblage of restored Al-Hawizeh marsh, southern Iraq. Ecohydrol Hydrobiol 8(2–4):375–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohammadian-Kalat T, Esmaeili HR, Aliabadian M, Freyhof J (2017) Re-description of Alburnus doriae, with comments on the taxonomic status of A. amirkabiri, A. mossulensis, A. sellal and Petroleuciscus esfahani (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Zootaxa 4323(4):487–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mutlak FM, Al-Faisal AJ (2009) A new record of two exotic cichlids fish Oreochromis aureus Steindacher, 1864 and Tilapia zillii Gervais, 1848 from south of the main outfall drain in Basrah city. 24(2):160–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson JS, Grande TC, Wilson MV (2016) Fishes of the world, 5th edn. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Partow H (2001) The Mesopotamian marshlands: Demise of an ecosystem. Publication UNEP/DEWA, Nairobi (Kenya), 103p

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsar Site (2020). www.ramsar.org

  • Rezai M, Papahn F (2013) A Study of the fish fauna in Hoor-Al azim Wetland. J Appl Ichthyol Res 1(2):53–59. In Persian

    Google Scholar 

  • Roomiani L, Sotudeh AM, Hakimi Mofrad R (2014) Reproductive biology of Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) in coastal waters of the Northwest of Persian Gulf. Iran J Fish Sci 13(1):201–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Rylková K, Kalous L, Bohlen J, Lamatsch DK, Petrtýl M (2013) Phylogeny and biogeographic history of the cyprinid fish genus Carassius (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) with focus on natural and anthropogenic arrivals in Europe. Aquaculture 380:13–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Valikhani H, Abdoli A, Kiabi BH, Nejat F, Sadeghsaba M, Khosravi M (2018) A study on the status of invasive tilapia species (Coptodon zillii Gervais, 1848 and Oreochromis aureus Steindachner, 1864) in the aquatic ecosystems of Khuzestan Province, Iran. Environ Sci 15(4):29–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Valikhani H, Abdoli A, Kiabi BH, Nejat F (2016) First record and distribution of the blue tilapia, Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864)(Perciformes: Cichlidae) in inland waters of Iran. Iran J Ichthyol 3(1):19–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Zedler JB, Kercher S (2005) Wetland resources: Status, trends, ecosystem services and restorability. Annu Rev Environ Resour 30:39–74

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

F. Zarei is acknowledged for preparation of some maps. This study was financially supported by Shiraz University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ichthyology and Molecular Systematics Research Lab., Zoology Section, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Hamid Reza Esmaeili

Authors
  1. Hamid Reza Esmaeili
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hamid Reza Esmaeili .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology, Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand

    Laith A. Jawad

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Esmaeili, H.R. (2021). Checklist of Freshwater Fishes of Southwestern Wetlands of Iran. In: Jawad, L.A. (eds) Southern Iraq's Marshes. Coastal Research Library, vol 36. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66238-7_17

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation