Cyprinion watsoni ( Day, 1872 )

Çiçek, Erdoğan, Fricke, Ronald, Eagderi, Soheil, Sungur, Sevil, Coad, Brian W & Hamdard, Mohammad Hamid, 2023, Fishes of Afghanistan; a revised and updated annotated checklist, Zootaxa 5305 (1), pp. 1-69 : 23

Cyprinion watsoni ( Day, 1872)

[N]—Indus lotak

Taxonomy. Original description: Scaphiodon watsoni Day, 1872: 324 [rivers on Sind Hills, Pakistan and the Salt Range of the Punjab; syntypes and/or Day specimens: AMS B.7751 (1, syntype); BMNH 1889.2.1.370-379 (10) Bird I.; NMW 51671-73 (1, 1, 1); FMNH 2303 (4); RMNH 8704 [?=2552] (1); ZIN 8278 (4); ZMA 115924-25 (2, 1); ZMB 11042 (1); ZSI 2596 (1)].— Afghanistan synonyms: Cirrhina afghana Günther, 1889 ; Scaphiodon baluchiorum Jenkins, 1910 ; Scaphiodon watsoni belense Zugmayer, 1912 ; Semiplotus dayi Fowler, 1958 ; Scaphiodon irregularis Day, 1872 ; Cyprinion kirmanense Nikolskii, 1900 ; Scaphiodon readingi Hora, 1923 ; Cirrhina afghan nikolskii Berg, 1905 ; Scaphiodon macmahoni Regan, 1906 .—Revisions: Bianco & Bănărescu (1982: 84).—Illustration: Bleher (2018: fig.).

Status in Afghanistan. First record from Afghanistan by Bănărescu and Nalbant (1975: 242); confirmed by Coad (1981: 10; 2014: 148; 2015: 227).—Afghanistan materials: BMNH, CMN, USNM, ZMUC.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Afghanistan: Chamkani River drainage, Zhob River drainage, Pishin Lora drainage.—General distribution: Western Asia: Jazmurian to Indus River systems: southeastern Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.—Habitat: This species is found only in the larger mountain wadis and tributaries that support relatively large, deep pools year-round. It is found in the shallow marginal zone of the pools. It is suspected to be an aufwuchs feeder; gut contents comprise more than 90% filamentous algae, and the remaining 10% is unicellular algae, aquatic insects, and sand grains. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Locally consumed, but of no commercial importance.

Conservation. Conservation status in Afghanistan: Unknown.—IUCN: LC ( Harrison 2015).—Threats: HAB, CON, ABS, EUT, CLI.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered as a keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.—Low priority for conservation action.