Cyprinion muscatense (Boulenger, 1888)

Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Jufaili, Saud Al, Masoumi, Amir Hassan & Zarei, Fatah, 2022, Ichthyodiversity in southeastern Arabian Peninsula: Annotated checklist taxonomy, short description and distribution of Inland fishes of Oman, Zootaxa 5134 (4), pp. 451-503 : 463

2. Cyprinion muscatense (Boulenger, 1888) , Native

Etymology: Cyprinion : diminutive of Latin, cyprinus = carp; muscatense : composed from Muscat city.

Common name: Muscat Cyprinion, Hajar Lotak.

Taxonomy: Scaphiodon muscatensis was described by Boulenger [G. A.] 1888:665 [Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1887 (pt 4) from Muscat, Oman, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, northwestern Indian Ocean. Syntypes: BMNH 1885.11.7.35-40 (6), 1887.11.11.289-291 (3). It was considered as synonym of Cyprinion microphthalmum (Day, 1880) by Banister & Clarke (1977):130 and Alkahem & Behnke (1983):559; Cyprinion microphthalmum (Day, 1880) , but a valid subspecies by Krupp (1983) 589; and Cyprinion watsoni ( Day, 1872) by Coad (1995):16.

Short description: D III, 10–11; A II, 7; LL 37–41; L.tr. 4. Length of head one fourth of total (without caudal); diameter of eye one fourth the barbel on each side, measuring three fifths the diameter of the eye; mandible sharp, with a horny sheath. Origin of dorsal just above the ventrals, midway between the end of the snout and the base of the caudal; last undivided dorsal ray osseous, rather feeble, not serrated. Pectoral as long as the head less the snout. Caudal forked. Bronzy above, whitish below; scales, except the lowermost, with a dark brown margin; a moderately distinct blackish lateral band ending in a spot before the caudal.

Distribution: Oman and United Arab Emirates: Hajar Mountains; Al Hajr, Ibri, Al Dhahira Governorate; Al Amirat, Muscat Goveronate; Al Wasit, Al Bureimi, Al Bureimi Governorate; Hoqain, Al Rustaq, Al Batinah Governorate; Nakhal, Al Batinah Governorate; Surur, Samail, Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate; Al Samdi, Samail, Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate; Sur Bridge, Sur, Al Sharqiya Governorate; Wadi Khabbah in Dima Wattayeen, Al Sharqiya North Governorate; Wadi Fanja, Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate; Wadi Bani Kharus, Al Batinah South Governorate ( Fig. 13 ).

Remarks: Widespread in Oman but, the populations have decreased and have been lost in some sites due to water extraction, road construction and other anthropological activities.

Examined material: ZM-CBSU: Cy 001-150, 11, Oman: Surur , 23°24ʹ42ʹʹ N, 58°06ʹ17ʹʹ E. ZM-CBSU: Cy 002- 161-171, Oman: Nakhal , 23°22ʹ51ʹʹN, 57°49ʹ36ʹʹE. ZM-CBSU: Cy 003-172-182, Oman: Wadi Huqain, 23°32ʹ22ʹʹN, 57°20ʹ38ʹʹE, H. R. Esmaeili, S.M. Al-Jufaili, A.H. Masoumi .

Figures

FIGURE 13. Distribution map of Cyprinion muscatense in Oman. Pink: Southwestern Arabian Coast, green: Oman Mountains, and yellow: Arabian Interior.