Capoeta razii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Subfamily:	Cyprininae
Genus:	Capoeta
Species:	C. razii
Binomial name
Capoeta razii Jouladeh-Roudbar, Eagderi, Ghanavi & Doadrio, 2017

Capoeta razii, is a newly described species of freshwater cyprinid fish occurring mainly in southern Caspian Sea basin, Iran.^[1] This species was mistakenly reported by many authors as Capoeta gracilis in northern Iranian regions. It was first reported to be different from Capoeta gracilis by Levin et al. (2012).^[2]

This species is named in honour of Abū Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyyā al-Rāzī, a Persian polymath, physician, alchemist, and philosopher, for his important contributions in the history of medicine. He also discovered numerous compounds including ethanol.^[1]

Coloration

In life the upper part of the body is golden brown, olive-green, or silver, and the belly is whitish up to the lateral line. The head is dark-brown or olive-green on top and the cheeks are pale brown to white. Anal, pelvic, and pectoral fins are hyaline or light brown, and dorsal and caudal fins have a narrow black line on rays. In specimen smaller than 50 mm SL, minute black spots are present on flanks.^[1]

In preservation the dorsum is dark brown on back and flanks, and yellowish white on belly (Figure 6). Dorsum of the head is dark brown, and the cheeks beige. Fins are often light brown and pelvic and anal fins may be yellowish to hyaline. Dorsal and caudal fins are darker than lower fins. Peritoneum is black.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

Capoeta razii is found in many rivers and streams of the southern Caspian Sea basin. It is one of the most abundant species in the Caspian Sea basin along with the members of the genus Alburnoides Jeitteles, 1861. At the Kheyroud River (type locality), the current was medium to fast, river width was between 3–14 m and the maximum depth was around one meter, the stream bed was composed of cobbles and gravel, and the riparian vegetation type was deciduous forests.^[1]

Following fish species: Poticola iranicus Vasil’eva, Mousavi-Sabet & Vasil’ev 2015, Alburnoides taberstanensis Mousavi-Sabet, Anvarifar & Azizi, 2015, Alburnus chalcoides (Güldenstädt 1772), Barbus cyri De Filippi 1865, Squalius turcicus De Filippi 1865, Luciobarbus capito Güldenstädt 1773, L. mursa Güldenstädt 1773, Cobitis faridpaki Mousavi-Sabet, Vasil’eva, Vatandoust & Vasil’ev 2011, co-exist with C. razii in type locality. Capoeta razii is known from most of rivers and streams between Atrak and Kote komeh (Near Astara city) rivers in southern Caspian Sea basin.^[1]

References