Carasobarbus luteus

Common name. Mesopotamian himri.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Carasobarbus in Persian Gulf and Mediterranean basins by: ● usually one pair of barbels / ○ fleshy lobe on lower lip absent / ○ 25−30 total lateral-line scales / ○ usually 12 circumpeduncular scales / ○ last unbranched dorsal ray about as long as head or slightly shorter, soft, and weakly ossified. Size up to 370 mm SL.

Distribution. Qweiq, Euphrates, Tigris, and Karun drainages. Persian Gulf south to Kol drainage. Also, in Kor endorheic basin (Iran).

Habitat. Lowland rivers, backwaters, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ponds, rarely in fast-flowing waters. Tolerant of high salinity and reported from fully marine waters. Spawns on submerged vegetation.

Biology. Lives up to 8 years. Spawns first time at 1−2 years and about 90−140 mm SL; in Atatürk reservoir at 3 years. Spawns April−June (in Hammar Marsh) or May−July (in Shatt al-Arab/Arvand). During spawning, male become reddish-brown on anterior part of body and greenish on caudal peduncle, while female is less colourful. Males can produce a series of sharp clicking sounds. Eggs are yellow to orange and sticky. Growth is reported to be slower in brackish water than in freshwater. Mainly herbivorous, taking detritus and small invertebrates, especially when young.

Conservation status. LC. Extirpated in Syrian reaches of Qweiq.

Remarks. Individuals with two pairs of barbels are very rare. In the Naband drainage in Iran, all individuals have two pairs of barbels, and this population may represent an undescribed species. Records from Orontes drainage and Damascus basin appear to have been mislabelled or taken from markets where fish from the Euphrates are sold. In some places, it is kept as a “sacred” fish in parks and holy places where it can be abundant. It adapts well to visitors, and people enjoy seeing it begging for food.

Further reading. Ahmed et al. 1984 (reproductive biology); Naama & Mushen 1986 (feeding); Mohamed et al. 1993 (occurrence in marine waters);Coad 2010a (biology); Tsigenopoulos et al. 2010 (phylogeny); Borkenhagen et al. 2011 (phylogeny); Borkenhagen & Krupp 2013 (description, distribution); Kaya et al. 2016 (distribution); Coad 2021a (biology, morphology).