Capoeta heratensis

Common name. Central Asian scraper.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Capoeta in Iranian endorheic basins by: ● usually two pairs of barbels / ○ 50–61 total lateral-line scales / ○ 17–22 gill rakers / ○ usually 8½ branched dorsal rays / ○ 8–11 scales between dorsal origin and lateral line / ○ 7–8 scales between anal origin and lateral line / ○ 7–10 scales between pelvic origin and lateral line / ○ back behind head and in front of dorsal origin not or very slightly compressed / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray strong, with many serrae. Size up to 292 mm SL.

Distribution. Hari drainage in Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. In Morghab, Karakum Canal, and Kopetdag streams in Turkmenistan, Zeravshan, and Amu Darja in Central Asia.

Habitat. A wide range of streams and rivers, including reservoirs and lakes, from which it migrates into tributaries to spawn.

Biology. Lives for 8 years, probably longer, reported to mature at 2−4 years and 100 mm (probably TL). Small spawners appear to be all males. Spawns April−August at temperatures between 16 and 23°C (Uzbekistan) on gravel bottoms. Fractional spawners, females spawn more than once in a season.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Individuals with three or two barbels are common in some populations. Capoeta steindachneri is a synonym.

Further reading. Berg 1949b (morphology, distribution); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2017b (morphology); Zareian et al. 2017 (phylogeny, morphology).