Capoeta raghazensis, Eagderi1 & Mousavi-Sabet2, 2021

Eagderi, Soheil & Mousavi-Sabet, Hamed, 2021, Capoeta raghazensis, a new species of algae-scraping cyprinid from the Raghaz Canyon in Hormuz basin, southern Iran (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), FishTaxa 22, pp. 37-44 : 38-43

Capoeta raghazensis , new species

(Figs. 1-3, Tables 1-2 )

Holotype: IMNRF-UT-1105-4, holotype, 111.8 mm SL. Iran: Hormuzgan prov., Hormuz basin , near Darab City, Raghaz Canyon, 28°49'32"N 54°18'02"E, July 2017 .

Paratypes: IMNRF-UT-1105, 4, 67.7–231.3 mm SL ; VMFC CR22006, 2, 71.2–113.0 mm SL; data same as holotype.

Diagnosis: Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. is a member of C. damascina species group. It is distinguished from C. capoeta species group ( C. aculeate , C. alborzensis , C. capoeta , C. fusca , C. gracilis , C. heratensis , C. macrolepis and C. razii ) by having smaller scales, including 69–77 total lateral line scales (vs. 32–58), 11– 13 scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line (vs. 6–10), and 9–10 scales between anal-fin origin and lateral line (vs. 5–7). Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. is further distinguished from C. capoeta by having 11–14 total gill rakers (vs. 17–29), and from C. heratensis by having one set (vs. two) barbel.

Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. is distinguished from C. buhsei and C. umbla by having 69–77 lateral line scales (vs. 80–102) and 9–10 scales between anal-fin origin and lateral line (vs. 11–14). Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. is further distinguished from C. umbla by 11–14 total gill rakers (vs. 18–20). It is distinguished from C. saadi by having shorter barbels (7–13 vs. 13–24% HL), shorter head (20–24 vs. 24–30% SL), smaller pectoral fin (10– 15 vs. 16–19% SL), and 25-29 circum-pendicular scales (vs. 23-24). Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. is distinguished from C. coadi , C. damascina , C. ferdowsii , C. pyragyi , C. shajariani and C. umbla by having 11–14 total gill rakers (vs. 15-20). It is further distinguished from C. coadi by having shorter pectoral fin (10-15 vs. 17-20% SL) and shallow dorsal fin depth (9–15 vs. 18–21% SL). It is distinguished from C. biruni , C. ferdowsii , C. pyragyi and C. shajariani by having 7-10 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch (vs. 10-13, 12-14, 13-15 and 12-14, respectively),

Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. is distinguished from the members of C. trutta species group ( C. anamisensis , C. mandica and C. trutta ) by having a moderately ossified last unbranched dorsal-fin ray which usually smaller than head length (vs. strongly ossified and thick) and having 11–14 total gill rakers (vs. 17–29).

Description: See Figures 1-4 for general appearance and Tables 1-2 for morphometric and meristic data. Body moderately deep and compressed laterally. Greatest body depth at middle of pectoral-pelvic distance. Head dorsal profile slightly convex. Predorsal length slightly longer than post-dorsal length. Dorsal profile of body convex without any keel in front of dorsal-fin origin. Snout rounded with a semi-circular view in ventral. Mouth arcuate in males and straight in females ( Fig. 3 ). Upper and lower lips adnate to jaws. Lower jaw with a strong keratinized edge. Rostral cap well-developed in semi-circular form and overlapping with upper lip. One set of maxillary barbels, short, smaller than eye’s horizontal diameter and never reaching to posterior margin of orbit. Intranasal length slightly shorter than snout length. Pelvic axillary well-developed, pointed, triangular in shape covering by scales.

Dorsal fin depth (9–15% SL) with 4 unbranched and 7–8 branched rays, its outer margin straight in sinuate shape. Last unbranched dorsal-fin ray thickened and serrated, distally flexible, with 16–20 serrae on its posterior margin, with serrations along 60–70% of its posterior margin, denticles in moderate size and narrowly spaced. Last unbranched dorsal-fin ray slightly shorter than first branched ray, and its tip soft. Pelvic fin inserted below a vertical of posterior margin of first branched dorsal-fin. Caudal fin short, emarginate with round and equal size of lobes. Pectoral fin depth short (10–15% SL) with15–17 branched rays. Pelvic fin with 1 unbranched and 8 branched rays. Anal fin with 3 unbranched rays, 5 branched rays and its outer margin rounded. 11–14 gill rakers on outer side of first arch. 25–29 circum-peduncular scales. Lateral line complete with 69–77 scales. 11– 13 scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line and 9–10 between anal-fin origin and lateral line.

Coloration: In live specimens, dorsum olive, a dark pigmentation present on scales above lateral line giving impression of stripes in males but faded in female. A mid-flank stripe is evident, darkest on the anterior part of the body. Below the lateral line and belly beige. Dorsal and caudal fins with melanophores on the membranes, fade in margins. Pectoral and pelvic fins orange-cream with melanophores on the membranes. Anal fin beige. In preserved specimens, dorsum, upper side of mid-flank and head brown. Below the lateral line and belly beige. Peritoneum black.

Distribution and habitat: Based on our knowledge, Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. is only found in the Raghaz Canyon, Hormuz basin, Iran. The Raghaz Canyon, with an approximate length of four kilometres, 64 cascade and more than 100 natural ponds Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. was captured in a pond with about 2 m depth, 6 m 2 surface area. Water was clear with low current ( Fig. 4 ).

Etymology: The species name raghazensis refers to Raghaz Canyon, the type locality of Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. An adjective.

Remark: Based on our unpublished data, Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. is distinguished from C. saadi , its closest relative, by an uncorrected-pairwise distance of 6.0% based on the Cytochrome b sequences.

Comparative Materials: — Capoeta anamisensis: ZM-CBSU Z126-130, 5, 134–139 mm SL; Iran: Hormuzgan prov.: Minab River drainage, Moradabad River at Ziarat Ali , 27°45'47.6"N 57°14'31.8"E.

Capoeta birunii: ZM-CBSU Z651-660, 10, 90-165 mm SL; Iran: Esfahan prov.: Zayandeh River basin, Daran River near Daran , 32˚49′25.8″N 50˚25′47.4″E. 16 Aug 201.

Capoeta alborzensis : IMNRF-1063, 7, 50-153 mm SL, Iran: Tehran prov.: Nam River, tributary of Hableh River , near Arjomand village, 35°48'00"N 52°30'57"E . — IMNRF-UT-2063, 23, 46-163 mm SL, Iran: Tehran prov.: Dasht-e Kavir basin, Nam River, tributary of Hableh River , near Harandeh village, 35°42'41"N 52°40'19"E, September 2014.

Capoeta buhsei : IMNRF-UT-1075, 12, 103.9- 211.8 mm SL, Iran: Markazi prov.: Namak Lake basin, Tafresh Town , at Khalife Kandy village, Mazlaghan-Chay River , 34°45'34"N 49°56'50"E, Novembre 2016.

Capoeta capoeta : IMNRF-UT-1067, 15, 66-157 mm SL, Iran: Eastern Azarbaijan prov.: Urmia Lake basin, Near Ajab Shir City , Ghale-Chay River , 37°29'25"N 45°59'57"E, Novembre 2016.

Capoeta coadi : IMNRF-UT-1108, 18, 91-163 mm SL, Iran: Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad prov.: Tigris basin , near Ghalat village, Beshar River , 30°27'47"N 51°45'10"E, July 2017.

Capoeta damascina : NUIC-1519. 20. 104.8–218.1 mm SL; Turkey: Malatya prov.: Persian Gulf basin, Sürgü Stream , 38°02’34’’N 37°51’21’’E.

Capoeta ferdowsii : IMNRF-UT-1111 61, 121.6 mm SL; Iran: Fars prov.: Persian Gulf basin , Tang-e Shiv River at Bekr Sofla village, Zohre River drainage, 30°25'26"N 51°21'55"E. July 2017 . — IMNRF-UT-1111, 8, 63.8-138.4 mm SL; data same as IMNRF-UT-1111 61.

Capoeta fusca : IMNRF-UT-1065, 8, 46-121 mm SL, Iran: North Khorasan prov.: Hari River basin, near Farooj Town , at Segonbadan village, Qanat-e Segonbadan , 37°14'46"N 58°08'01"E.

Capoeta heratensis : IMNRF-UT-1064, 15, 116-161 mm SL, Iran: Khorasan-e Razavi prov.: Hari River basin, near Sarakhs , at Pole-e Khaton , Hari River , 35°56'51"N 61°08'51"E, June 2016.

Capoeta pyragyi : IMNRF-UT-1109 141, 118.1 mm SL; Iran: Lorestan prov.: Tigris River drainage , Tire River at Kaghe village (Fig. 13), Sezar River drainage, 33°37'06"N 48°58'13"E. July 2017 . — IMNRF-UT- 1109, 16, 79.6–155.8 mm SL; data same as IMNRF-UT-1109 141.

Capoeta macrolepis : IMNRF-UT-1058, 9, 53-116 mm SL, Iran: Fars prov.: Kor River basin, Tange Boragh village, Kor River , 37°14'46"N 58°08'01"E.

Capoeta mandica: ZM-CBSU Z212 -217, 6, 83–118 mm SL; Iran: Fars prov.: Qareh Aghaj River at Kavar , 29°10'55.10"N 52°41'32.80"E. — ZM-CBSU Z235 -245, 11, 82–130 mm SL; Iran: Fars prov.: Qareh Aghaj River at Kuohmareh Sorkhi , 29°23'39.8"N 52°09'49.1"E.

Capoeta saadii: ZM-CBSU 2524 -2528, 5, 113-231mm SL; Iran: Fars prov.: Ghadamgah spring, Doroodzan , 30°15'11"N 54°25'32"E.

Capoeta razii : IMNRF-UT-1072, 14 specimens, 90.7–184.2 mm SL; Iran: Mazandaran prov.: Caspian Sea basin, Chalus City, Kheyroud River , 36°36'35"N, 51°33'45"E

Capoeta shajariani : IMNRF-UT-1107 21, 162.4 mm SL; Iran: Hamedan prov.: Tigris River drainage, Gamasiab River near Doab Village , 34°22'13"N 47°54'26"E, S. July 2017. — IMNRF-UT-1107, 10, 93.5– 173.0 mm SL; data same as IMNRF-UT-1109 141. — IMNRF-UT-1106, 10, 93.9-203.2 mm SL; Iran: Hamedan prov.: Gamasiab River at Saad-e Vaghas Village , Tigris River drainage , 34°16'54"N 48°14'29"E. July 2017.

Capoeta trutta : IMNRF-UT- 1073, 15, 54.1-165.2 mm SL, Iran: Kermanshah prov.: Tigris basin, Songhor to Satar road, Tape-Esmail village, Gaveh River , 34°56'01"N 47°12'49"E, August 2016.

Capoeta umbla : IMNRF-UT-1077, 15, 107.3- 175.9 mm SL, Iran: Kurdistan prov.: Tigris River basin, Little Zab River , near Sardasht Town , Barisu village, 36°08'48"N 45°32'17"E, May 2016.

Figures

Figure 3. Ventral view of Head. Capoeta raghazensis sp. n. (A: IMNRF-UT-1105-4, 114 mm SL, male; B: IMNRF-UT-1105-7, 231 mm SL, female; C: IMNRF-UT-1105-6, 200 mm SL, female; D: IMNRF-UT-1105-4, 111.8 mm SL, male).

Figure 4. Raghaz Canyon, near Darab City, Hormuz basin, type locality of Capoeta raghazensis, sp. n..