Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2016) 40: 87-102 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1407-2 An update note on diversity and conservation of the endemic fishes in Iranian inland waters 1, 2 3 Azad TEIMORI *, Hossein MOSTAFAVI , Hamid Reza ESMAEILI 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran 2 Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department of Water, Atmosphere, and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria 3 Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Received: 01.07.2014 Accepted/Published Online: 03.02.2015 Final Version: 01.01.2016 Abstract: The diversity, distribution pattern, and conservation status of endemic species were obtained by analysis of catalogued specimens collected by fieldwork carried out by the authors at various times in different regions in Iran since 2002. The Iranian endemic ichthyofauna includes 51 species and forms a significant part of the total species known from this country, so that new endemic species are being described almost every year. The highest endemicity is found in the Tigris-Karoun basin in the west, followed by the Kor River and the Persian Gulf basins in the south. Creation of the landlocked basins played an important role in speciation and diversification of Iranian endemic fishes. In addition, the biogeographic situation and geological history of the Iranian plateau, as well as the various climate conditions and consequent different habitat types, may have contributed to this high diversity. Numerous threats are known to seriously affect this diversity; some of the endemic species are going to be extinct in the near future. Human-induced disturbances (i.e. fish introductions, pollution, and, in particular, habitat destruction and unusual methods of fishing) and natural disturbances (particularly drought during the past 10 years) have drastically affected endemic ichthyodiversity in Iran. Key words: Endemicity, speciation, exotic fish, drought, geological history, zoogeography, Iran 1. Introduction C. keyvani, Turcionemacheilus bahaii, T. hafezi, T. saadii, From a biogeographic point of view, the Iranian plateau Oxynoemacheilus kurdistanicus, O. chomanicus, O. is located in the Palearctic region bordering the Oriental zagrosensis, Alburnus zagrosensis, Alburnoides idignensis, and African zones (Coad and Vhlenkin, 2004). However, A. namaki, A. nicolausi, A. petrubanarescui, A. qanati, based on its ichthyofaunal composition, the Iranian Aphanius arakensis, A. darabensis, A. furcatus, A. plateau borders the eastern Mediterranean (Western isfahanensis, A. kavirensis, A. pluristriatus, and A. shirini) Palearctic), the southern Asian (Indo-Oriental), and (Coad and Najafpour, 1997; Hrbek et al., 2006; Coad, the Ethiopian regions (Coad, 1998; Nalbant and Bianco, 2009; Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009; Teimori et al., 2011, 1998). Accordingly, it can be expected that there is a high 2012a, 2014; Esmaeili et al., 2012, 2014; Gholami et al., diversity of freshwater fish species, i.e. approximately 222 2014; Kamangar et al., 2014) revealed that Iran probably species (Abdoli, 2000; Coad and Vhlenkin, 2004; Teimori, harbors numerous other endemic fish species in addition 2006; Esmaeili et al., 2007, 2010a, 2013a, 2013b, 2014; to those currently recognized (Hrbek et al., 2006; Esmaeili Teimori et al., 2010, 2012a, 2012b, 2014; Kamangar et al., et al., 2010a; Teimori et al., 2012a, 2014). 2014). Therefore, the Iranian plateau may be considered as In contrast to the high species diversity of the Iranian a center for the origin of many native species (Hrbek and ichthyofauna, little information is known concerning the Meyer, 2003; Esmaeili et al., 2007, 2010a; Teimori et al., biodiversity and distribution of the endemic fishes, and 2012b). Moreover, several parts of Iran contain many local this makes it difficult to determine their conservation fish endemics (Coad, 2006; Esmaeili et al., 2007, 2010a, statuses (Abdoli, 2000; Teimori, 2006; Esmaeili et al., 2010a; 2010b). Descriptions of 23 new endemic fish species and Teimori et al., 2010). It becomes even more important if revalidation of some others since 1998 (i.e. Carrasobarbus we consider that endemic fishes are an important part of sublimus, Ilamnemacheilus longipinis, Cobitis faridpaki, the natural heritage of a country and their conservation * Correspondence: [email protected] 87 TEIMORI et al. / Turk J Zool has important implications on a worldwide basis since, by 2.1. Endemism and drainage basins definition, an endemic taxon is one found nowhere else. Although most people feel they have an intuitive sense of Nevertheless, freshwater resources in Iran have been the definition of the term ‘endemic’, historical confusion heavily polluted, the morphology of most rivers and over its application in conservation biology suggests that a streams has been modified, and numerous lakes have brief discussion of the word is useful (Anderson, 1994). A suffered eutrophication and many have dried up in recent taxon is endemic to an area if it occurs there and nowhere years. It has also been documented that many of the native else (Gaston and Spicer, 1998). The area can be defined fishes in Iran are now directly under several threats, which by political boundaries, such as country or department are mostly induced by human activities (Teimori, 2006; endemics, or by ecological boundaries, such as a species Esmaeili et al., 2009a, 2009b, 2010b; Teimori et al., 2010). endemic to a distinct drainage basin (Gaston and Spicer, In order to preserve significant endemic fish diversity in 1998). Iran for sustainable conservation management, providing Therefore, the term ‘endemic’ is here defined as any updated information on the endemicity of Iranian inland species found only in the drainage basins within Iranian waters is a priority. geographical regions and political boundaries. However, the area of endemism can be either relatively large, with 2. Materials and methods a wide distribution range (wide-range endemics), or very The diversity, distribution pattern, and conservation status small, with a narrow distribution range (narrow-range of the endemic species were obtained by investigations endemics). of the catalogued specimens deposited in the Collection Based on the defined classifications for Iranian of the Department of Biology, Shiraz University, Iran drainage basins, they are divided into 19 basins, which are (ZM-CBSU), published data of the authors and the shown in Figure 1. These basins include two major types, others (see references), fieldwork carried out in different i.e. endorheic (those water bodies that end at a closed drainage basins of Iran since 2002, and unpublished data water source such as a landlocked lake) and exorheic accumulated by the authors. basins (those water bodies that eventually reach a sea or Figure 1. Geographic overview of the Iranian drainage basins. Maharlu Lake basin is located between the Kor and Persian Gulf basins. It should be noted that in this study the Tigris and Karoun basins are considered together as the Tigris–Karoun basin. The endorheic basins are Orumiyeh (Urmia), Namak Lake, Esfahan, Kerman, Kavir, Kor River, Maharlu Lake, Jaz, Murian, Tedzhen, Sistan, Mashkid, Bedjestan, and Lut basins. The exorheic basins are the South Caspian Sea, Tigris–Karoun, Persian Gulf, Hormuzgan (Hormuz), and Makran. 88 TEIMORI et al. / Turk J Zool open ocean such as the Persian Gulf or Sea of Oman in range endemic group itself can be divided into 2 groups. southern Iran). The most important endorheic basins in The first group can be called basin-restricted endemics Iran are Maharlu Lake, Orumyieh Lake, Namak Lake, Kor (found in a few localities, only in one basin) and the River, and Esfahan. The water bodies in the Kor River and second group may be considered site-restricted endemics Esfahan basins respectively end at the landlocked Tashk- (found only in one locality in one basin). Bakhtegan and Gavkhuni wetlands (Figure 1). Endemic All of the endemic Aphanius species are basin- species are found both in the endorheic and exorheic restricted endemics, in that the species are restricted to basins. only one basin. The only exception is A. ginaonis, which is restricted to only one sulfuric hot spring in southern Iran. 3. Results Some other endemic species are wide-range endemics, 3.1. Endemic diversity, systematics, and basins which show wide distribution ranges (e.g., Capoeta saadii To date, 222 fish species have been recorded from Iranian and C. aculeata; see Tables 1–3). inland water bodies. The endemic ichthyofauna (see Table Approximately 38.8% of the endemic species are 1) is an important part of this diversity. It comprises 50 found in the exorheic basins, while the endorheic basins species in 21 genera and 6 families, which represents contain 44.90% of the total endemics. About 14.30% of about 22.5% of total confirmed fishes and about 26.4% the endemic species are common among these 2 drainage of total native species recognized from Iran. The greatest systems (Table 3). Forty species (out of 50, i.e. 80%) are endemicity belongs to the family Cyprinidae with 21 species found only in one basin. Considering species diversity, (or 42% of the endemics), followed by Nemacheilidae the Tigris-Karoun basin (15 species), Kor River basin (9 with 13 species (26% of the endemics), Cyprinodontidae species), Orumiyeh (Urmia) basin (8 species),