Southern Caspian nase

biology_ecology

Habitat. Foothill and mountain rivers with strong to slow currents, sandy, and rocky to gravelly bottoms, also in lakes and reservoirs. Spawns on hard bottoms, migrate from lakes and reservoirs into tributaries to spawn. Biology. Lives at least 5 years and matures at 2 – 3 years. Spawning season depends on altitude and water temperature, peaking in April (lower Kura), June – July (upper Kura). Females spawn one batch of eggs per year. Feeds on periphyton.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

conservation

Conservation status. VU; has declined due to hydropower development and pollution.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Chondrostoma in Caspian, Persian Gulf, and Kor endorheic basins in Iran by: ● mouth strongly arched both in juveniles and adults / ● cornified sheath covering lower lip very thin / ○ 48 – 73, usually 52 – 62, total lateral-line scales / ○ 6 – 5, rarely 6 – 6 or 5 – 5, pharyngeal teeth / ○ 7 − 9 ½, usually 8 ½, branched dorsal rays / ○ 8 − 10 ½, usually 9 ½, branched anal rays / ○ (17) 21 − 26 (32) gill rakers. Size up to 246 mm SL.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

description

Common name. Kura nase Taxonomy. Original description: Chondrostoma cyri Kessler, 1877: 137, pl. 5 (fig. 21) [Kura River, Tbilisi, Georgia, Eurasia; syntypes: (8) BMNH 1897.7. 5.27 [ex St. Petersberg Univ.] (1), ZIN 10919 (2)]. Revisions. None. Illustrations. Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. (2020: 135, fig. 241).

Freshwater lamprey and fishes of Iran: Reappraisal and updated checklist with a note on Eagderi et al. (2022)