Luciobarbus brachycephalus (Kessler, 1872)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 231-232

Luciobarbus brachycephalus

Common name. Shorthead barbel.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Luciobarbus in Caspian basin and Hari drainage by: ● predorsal length shorter than postdorsal length / ● usually 7½ branched dorsal rays / ○ 16–25 gill rakers / ● back between head and dorsal origin laterally compressed, forming a keel / ○ 62–90 (usually 65–77) total lateral-line scales / ○ lower lip thin, without median lobe or pad. Size up to about 1000 mm SL and 21 kg.

Distribution. Southern and western Caspian basin. Landlocked population in Mingachevir reservoir ( Azerbaijan). Migrates up larger tributaries of western and southern coasts to spawn: Terek, Samur, Kura, and lower Aras. Rarely in lower Volga (to Volgograd) and Ural. Recorded from Karakum Canal and Kopetdag reservoir in Turkmenistan. Widespread in Aral basin (Central Asia).

Habitat. At sea, to 25 m depth. In rivers, in deep stretches with gravel or stone bottoms. Spawns in fast-flowing water in hard bottom areas, 1−2 m deep.

Biology. Mostly semi-anadromous, rarely land-locked in Caspian basin, riverine in Aral basin. Lives up to 10 years (males) and 13 years (females). Spawns first time at about 500−700 mm SL, 5−7 years, females later than males. Spawns April to August, peaking at 23−27°C. Some individuals begin spawning migration in August−September and spawn next spring after overwintering in river. Some enter rivers in early spring (March) and spawn in same year. Spring run begins at water temperatures between 7−11°C and is most intense in early summer at 25−27°C. Females lay 100,000−1,250,000 bright yellow eggs in 2−3 portions during a single season. Eggs are semi−pelagic and hatch after at least 2 days at 25°C while drifting downstream. Larvae settle in areas of slow

current; after 2−12 months, juveniles drift downstream to sea (or reservoir if river is dammed). In the low-salinity zones of the sea, it feeds mainly on benthic crustaceans. Does not feed during upstream migration. Starts feeding again at spawning grounds, mainly on insects, juveniles of other fish, and rarely on algae, seeds, and other plant material.

Conservation status. EN; stocks in Caspian basin declined sharply due to massive habitat alteration, particularly overfishing and dam construction. Currently very rare in Caspian basin, but still reported from coastal rivers in Azerbaijan, the Iranian Lenkoran and Terek in Dagestan. It is regularly found in middle Amu Darya drainage, where it is expected to decline sharply due to increased hydroelectric development, overfishing, and water diversion from rivers for irrigation, especially in Turkmenistan and Afghanistan (Qosh Tepa Canal).

Further reading. Abdurakhmanov 1962 (biology); Magomedov 1981 (biology); Mitrofanov et al. 1988 (description, biology); Bogutskaya 2003a (biology).

Luciobarbus capito ; Aras, Armenia; ~ 300 mm SL.© S. Pipoyan.