Luciobarbus esocinus Heckel, 1843 [N]—Pike barbel

Taxonomy. Original description: Luciobarbus esocinus Heckel, 1843: 1054 [64] [Tigris River, Mosul, Iraq; syntypes: NMW 54088 (2), 54091-92 (1, 1); SMF 454 (ex NMW) (1), 6785 (ex NMW) (1)].— Iraq synonyms: Barbus esocinus (Heckel, 1843) .—Revisions: None.—Illustration: Heckel (1843: pl. 4, fig. 2); Esmaeili (2021: 307, fig. 17.9).

Status in Iraq. Recorded from Iraq in original description by Heckel (1843).—Iraq materials: NMW.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Iraq: Euphrates and Tigris River basins.—General distribution: Middle East: Euphrates and Tigris river systems (Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran).—Habitat: This species occurs in large rivers and reservoirs from which they migrate to inflowing rivers to spawn. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation status in Iraq: Unknown.—IUCN: VU (IUCN 2023).—Threats: FIT.—High sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.—High priority for conservation action.