Silurus triostegus Heckel, 1843 [N]—Mesopotamian catfish

Taxonomy. Original description: Silurus triostegus Heckel, 1843: 1090 [100] [Tigris River, near Mosul, Iraq; syntypes: (4) NMW, SMF 2623 (ex NMW in 1844) (1, dry)].— Iraq synonyms: Parasilurus triostegus (Heckel, 1843) .—Revisions: Coad & Holčík (2000: 139).—Illustration: Heckel (1843, pl. 13, fig. 1); Esmaeili (2021: 309, fig. 17.12).

Status in Iraq. Recorded from Iraq in original description by Heckel (1843).—Iraq materials: NMW, SMF, Fish Collection of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Iraq: Tigris and Euphrates River basins.—General distribution: Middle East: Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.—Habitat: This species inhabits large rivers, marshes, lakes, and reservoirs. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation Status in Iraq: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: There are many threats in the area affection this species but none seem to be strong enough to let the species decline so fast, that it qualifies for a threat category.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Keystone species.—Decline status: Decreasing.—Low priority for conservation action.