Iran. J. Ichthyol. (March 2015), 2(1): 1–12 Received: January 01, 2015 © 2015 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: February 29, 2015 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: http://www.ichthyol.ir Review Article

Review of the Spiny of Iran (Family )

Brian W. COAD

Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6P4 Canada. Email: [email protected]

Abstract: The systematics, morphology, distribution, biology, economic importance and conservation of the spiny ( mastacembelus) of Iran are described, the species is illustrated, and a bibliography on this is provided. The single species is distributed in southern Iranian basins, including Karkheh, Karun, Jarrahi and Helleh river basins, mostly part of the Tigris River and Persian Gulf basins.

Keywords: Biology, Morphology, Systematics, Distribution, Mastacembelus.

Introduction freshwater riverine family with an Old World The freshwater ichthyofauna of Iran comprises a distribution throughout tropical Africa and eastwards diverse set of families and species. These form to Korea and Malaysia in Asia although the majority important elements of the aquatic ecosystem and a of species occur in Africa. The distribution mapped number of species are of commercial or other by Berra (2001) extends too far into central Iran. significance. The literature on these is widely Boulenger (1912), Sufi (1957), Travers (1984a, scattered, both in time and place. Summaries of the 1984b) and Yazdani (1990) review the spiny eels. morphology and biology of these species were given Their biodiversity and zoogeography in relation to in a website (www.briancoad.com) which is updated other Iranian fishes is summarised in and Coad here, while the relevant section of that website is now (1987, 1998) and Coad & Abdoli (1996) and their closed down. familial and generic relationships with neighboring The swamp eels (Order ) basins in other countries in Coad (1996). Maximum comprise three families (Synbranchidae, length is less than 1.0m. Chaudhuriidae and Mastacembelidae), 15 genera and The family is characterised by a very elongate, about 100 species found in fresh waters, although compressed or sub-cylindrical body, minute cycloid three species are primarily Archive marine. The spiny eels scales of or body SID naked, a non-protractile mouth, gill (Mastacembelidae) are found in freshwaters of opening a slit, an elongate snout with a sensitive tip tropical Africa, the Middle East and northern India flanked by tubular anterior nostrils, the posterior through Thailand to Korea (Nelson 2006) and nostrils are hence far to the rear, long dorsal and anal comprise 84 species (Eschmeyer & Fong 2015), soft fins (30-131 rays), dorsal soft fin preceded by among which, Iran has only one species. usually numerous isolated spines (9-42), anal fin preceded by 2-3 spines, pectoral fin present with 12- Family Mastacembelidae 27 rays but pelvic fin absent, caudal fin short and Mastacembelids, the spiny eel or spinyback family confluent with the dorsal and anal fins or only (Teleostei: Synbranchiformes) is a predominately separated narrowly, 60-110 vertebrae, no

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Fig.1. Line drawing of Mastacembelus mastacembelus by C. D. Douglas.

Fig.2. Detail of head of Mastacembelus mastacembelus by C. D. Douglas. pseudobranchiae, 2 pyloric caeca, and gas bladder Mastacacemblus. present. The is characterised by a moderate to large Some species are food fishes and they regularly size, an elongate and compressed body, inferior appear in the aquarium trade as they are brightly mouth with a narrow cleft, small eyes, the absence of coloured with distinctive patterns. They may burrow eye spots on the soft dorsal fin, the absence of in mud and even survive some drying in ponds striations under the snout, 6 branchiostegal rays, through their air-breathing ability. Their eel-like preopercle spiny or not at its posteroventral corner, shape is reflected in a wriggling behaviour when preorbital spine present, scales minute and cycloid, handled and some are known to move backwards to elongate gas bladder, lateral line present, minute jaw impale the hand with their dorsal spines. They are and palate teeth, and a rounded caudal fin. found at high altitudes as wellArchive as in lowlands, in both of SID still and running waters, often in rocky crevices or in Mastacembelus mastacembelus vegetation near banks, and they emerge particularly (Banks & Solander in Russell, 1794) at night to feed on prey. The rostral appendage is used (Figs. 1-5) to detect the prey by touch and the prey is rapidly Common names: Marmahi (= snake fish), marmahi- inhaled. ye khardar (= snake fish with spines or spiny snakefish), marmahi shakhdar. [salbouh abu-el-sian, Genus Mastacembelus Scopoli, 1777 salbu-al-sayan, saebouh abou siyan (= salbūħ-al- This spiny eel genus is found from the Levant to siyān and salbūħ abū-l-siyān meaning mud worm or Southeast Asia. There is one species in Southwest dwelling in mud worm, after Mikaili & Shayegh Asia. Heckel (1847) misspells the genus name (2011)); abu salmabah; simack, englisi or englese at

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Fig.3. Ophidium Mastacembelus from Russell (1794), scan from original in possession of B.W. Coad.

Fig.4. Mastacembelus mastcaembelus from Dalaki River, Helleh, 25 December 2011, courtesy of H.R. Esmaeili.

Fig.5. Mastacembelus mastcaembelus from Adıyaman, Turkey, courtesy of J. Freyhof.

Aleppo; hanklees in Syria (FAO 2014), all in Arabic; Mastacembelus aleppensis Günther, 1861 is an marmaritch or marmarij at Mosul (perhaps from the unjustified emendation of haleppensis (Eschmeyer et Persian marmari (= marble) in relation to colour al. 1996). Wheeler (1956) and Sufi (1957) discuss the pattern, after Mikaili Archive & Shayegh (2011)); names of of this speciesSID more fully. Mesopotamian spiny eel, Euphrates spiny eel]. Three syntypes of Ophidium Mastacembelus Systematics: Ophidium Mastacembelus was from "Aleppo" are in the Natural History Museum, originally described from "Aleppo" and from the London under BM(NH) 1955.6.25:4-6, measuring "River Kowick" (= Quwayq) in the book by Russell 289.5-544.0mm standard length. (1794). Çakmak (2008) and Çakmak & Alp (2010) Ophidium Simack Walbaum, 1792 (non- found morphological differences between river and binomial), Rhynchobdella haleppensis Bloch and reservoir populations in Turkey, but none for meristic Schneider, 1801 and Mastacembelus syriacus and molecular traits. Some differences appear to be Gronow in Gray, 1854 are synonyms. associated with habitat type, a thicker and longer

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caudal peduncle in river populations may enhance Colour: The body is blotched and barred, often swimming ability in faster water and longer lower forming a reticulate pattern, or a series of mid-flank jaws in river fish could be a feeding adaptation, for blotches most evident posteriorly and sometimes example. running together as a stripe anteriorly. Flank blotches Key characters: The eel-like body with 30-35 short, may form up to 18 bars running from the dorsal to the sharp dorsal spines, long soft dorsal and anal fins and anal fin across the flank. The back is blackish to the unique flexible snout flanked by tubular nostrils brown, olive, greyish or blue-grey, the lower flank is distinguish this species from all other Iranian fishes. spotted yellow or is yellow overall and the belly is Morphology: The mouth gape extends back as far as white to yellowish. A series of about 20-24 black to the anterior eye margin or somewhat forward of this blackish-brown, oval spots ringed with a lighter point. The posterior nostril is slit-like. The structure brown follow a dark, broad but irregular stripe on the and function of the olfactory apparatus and fleshy head and anterior back in the mid-line. Dorsal, anal tentacle is described by Jasim (1996). The structure and caudal fins are yellowish with the dorsal and of the elongated eye, typical of streamlined forms, caudal fins finely barred, and the anal fin continuing has been described by Jasim (1998) based on Iraqi the pattern on the adjacent body. The anal fin may be specimens. The regular, mosaic pattern of the retina almost immaculate. The soft dorsal fin may have is associated with fishes that search for their food and vermiculations rather than bars. The pectoral fins are the double cone structure may be associated with yellowish and are finely barred. The peritoneum is detection of moving prey. brownish, with numerous fine melanophores. Small Soft dorsal rays 68-90, soft anal rays 70-90 after fish (about 7.7cm total length) can be an almost 3 spines, pectoral rays 18-24 and total vertebrae 85- uniform grey-brown to brown-green, with yellowish 88. The penultimate spine in the dorsal fin is the brown on the fins and the tail region, and fin spots are longest and the central anal spine is the longest. dark to absent. There is a thin bar extending vertically Iranian specimens had 30(4), 31(6), 32(7) or 33(4) down or obliquely back from the eye. dorsal fin spines, 19(5), 20(3), 22(1) or 23(1) pectoral Size: Reaches 85.0cm total length and 1.1kg (Oymak fin branched rays, and total vertebrae 86(1) or 87(1). et al. 2009), and probably larger to almost 1.0m. Kara et al. (2014) summarise morphometric and Distribution: Found in the Quwayq, Orontes, and meristic data for some Turkish populations. The Tigris-Euphrates and adjacent basins (Coad 2010; diploid chromosome number is 2n=48, arms number Esmaeili et al. 2010). In Iran it is recorded from the NF=88 and there are 11 metacentric, 9 Tigris River basin including the Shadegan Wetland, submetacentric and 4 subtelocentric chromosome lakes Zaribar and Marivan, Sarab Nilofar, the Gav pairs (Esmaeili et al. 2006). Masiab, Talkhab, Chardavol, Chamkaran, Zimakan, Scales minute but coveringArchive the whole body, Haramabad, of Veisian,SID Cholvar, Karun, Karkheh, Dez, under the eye, below the posterior nostril and Nahr-e Shavor, Chamzarivar, A’la (Fig. 7), Kupal, between this nostril and the maxilla. Each scale has a Mah, Kahnak, Marun (Figs. 6, 8), Rud-e Zard and central to anterior focus with radii on all fields and an Jarrahi rivers, the Persian Gulf basin including Lake oval shape. There is a strong preorbital spine under Parishan or Famur (Fig. 9), Dadina Spring, the the eye, present in some fish but concealed under the Zohreh, Mand, Fasa, Shur, Helleh and Dalaki rivers, skin or absent in others. Teeth form broad bands in and the Kor River basin (Löffler 1957; Mokhayer both jaws with the outermost teeth the largest. There 1981; Ghaderi 1994; Gh. Izadpanahi, pers. comm. are no gill rakers but spinulose patches lying flat on 1995; Najafpour 1997; Eskandary et al. 1999; Firouz the arch. The gut is an elongate s-shape. 2000, 2005; Jalali et al. 2002, 2008; Jalali & Barzegar Sexual dimorphism: Unknown. 2006; Teimori et al. 2010; Esmaeili et al. 2011; 4

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Fig.6. Polluted habitat of Mastacembelus mastacembelus, Marun River near Behbahan, 21 November 2000, B.W. Coad.

Archive of SID

Fig.7. Habitat of Mastacembelus mastacembelus, A’la River at Pol-e Tighen, 20 September 1995, B.W. Coad. Hashemi & Ansary 2012; Gerami et al. 2014; the Kor River basin is probably a mis-identified Esmaeili et al. 2014; Keivany et al. 2015). Mastacembelus mastacembelus. Note that Esmaeili The record of Mastacembelus armatus et al. (2010) did not record this species from the Kor (Lacepède, 1800) reported by Mokhayer (1981) from River basin in their extensive survey. 5

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Fig.8. Habitat of Mastacembelus mastacembelus, Fig.9. Habitat of Mastacembelus mastacembelus, Marun River at Tang-e Khitab, 21 November 2000, Lake Parishan (= Famur), 24 October 1977, B.W. B.W. Coad. Coad. Abdoli (2000) maps this species from the Kor lentic environments (Pazira et al. 2005). Sufi (1957) and Pulvar rivers of the Kor River basin, the middle described mastacembelids as usually lurking in rock and lower Shur River tributary of the Dasht-e Palang, crevices or among stumps of plants near the bank and the upper Mand and Qara Agaj, the middle and upper I have observed them at Lake Parishan (= Famur) Hilleh and the upper Zohreh rivers of the Persian inhabiting crevices of a submerged rock wall. They Gulf basin, the Jarrahi, lower Karun, middle and may be able to survive desiccation by burying lower Dez, Karkheh, Simarreh and lower Kashkan themselves in mud. They are not commonly caught rivers of the Tigris River basin.Archive with of nets and maySID be mostly nocturnal in habits. In Zoogeography: This species is now known to occur the Marun River below Behbehan, Khuzestan (Fig. outside the Tigris-Euphrates and Quwayq basins in 6) this species is very common, commoner than any Southwest Asia in contrast to Banister's assertion other site sampled in this province, possibly the result (1980). The distribution of this species is not, of pollution-enriched water (field sample; H. R. however, continuous across Iran as shown in a figure Alizadeh, pers. comm. 2000). In areas under human by Travers (1984b) mis-quoting Coad (1979, actually influence in Lorestan, such as the lower reaches of 1980). It appears to be absent from the saline rivers rivers and near cities, it is more common than in draining to the Straits of Hormuz and from higher, pristine waters. Baluchestan. Age and growth: In the Helleh and Dalaki river Habitat: This species is known from both lotic and basins of southern Iran, the condition factor of this 6

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species was 0.162-0.458 (mean 0.296) for females 2005-2006 was 55.0% shrimps and 45.0% fish and in and 0.162-0.386 (mean 0.289) for males. Life span the Al Kaba'ish (= Chabaish) Marsh entirely fish was up to 6 years although most fish were 3 years or (Hussain et al. 2006). Pala et al. (2010) found fish younger. Females grew rapidly to age 3, after which from Karakaya Dam Lake, Turkey to contain plant annual growth decreased. von Bertalanffy length-at- material (predominately 16 taxa of Bacillariophyta), age equations were Lt=873.4 (1-exp{- cladocerans, copepods, and fish. 0.082[t+1.488]}) for females and Lt=923 (1-exp{- Reproduction: Fish taken on 26 November in Iran 0.081[t+1.464]}) for males (Pazira et al. 2005). have small but developing eggs, suggestive of spring Gerami et al. (2014) give a length-weight spawning. Al-Rudainy (2008) states that Iraqi fish relationship of TL=2E-05W2.675 for 32 fish (19.8- reach sexual maturity at 2 years, 25cm length and 46.5cm) from the Cholvar River in the Karun River 125g in weight, and spawn in June and July in basin. Fish production in the Shadegan Wetland was shallow muddy water among rocks. Şahinöz et al. 4.12kg/ha/yr, thirteenth of 14 species (Hashemi & (2006) give details of development of embryos and Ansary 2012). artificial breeding, based on fish taken from Atatürk Eroğlu & Şen (2007, 2012) examined fish in Dam Lake in Turkey. They obtained a fertilisation Karakaya Dam Lake, Malatya, Turkey and found 9 rate of 80%, egg diameters reached 2.015mm, and age groups using otoliths for ageing, with males in hatched larvae were observed at 85h after age group 4 forming the majority of the population. insemination. Sahinöz et al. (2007) examined milt Males generally outnumbered females in all age quality in fish from Atatürk Dam Lake, the best being groups. Oymak et al. (2009) examined 220 fish from found in the middle of June, and the spawning season Atatürk Dam Lake in Turkey and found maximum was found to be short. Eroğlu & Şen (2007), in their age was 13 years, males dominated especially in Turkish population, found males to mature at age 2, older age groups, the sex ratio being 1:0.63, the females matured at age 1 (although in most fish length-weight relationship was W=0.0228L2.43 for females mature later because of the demands of egg males and W=0.0029L2.95 for females, showing production), spawning took place mostly in June- negative allometry, and the von Bertalanffy growth July, and eggs numbered up to 27,944 and reached -e-0.11(t-0.12) equations were Lt=99.2[1 ] for males and 2.1mm in diameter. Oymak et al. (2009) found fish -e-0.26(t-0.35) Lt=69.2[1 ] for females. Gümüş et al. from Atatürk Dam Lake in Turkey bred from May to (2010) found males up to 21 years and females to 9 July, mean ripe egg diameter was 2.33mm, and years in fish from Atatürk Dam Lake on the Turkish fecundity ranged from 2540 to 24,000 eggs. Euphrates River. The length and weight frequency Parasites and predators: Mokhayer (1981) records a distributions were significantly different between heavy infestation with Contracaecum larvae in Lake sexes in this population and Archiveother growth parameters Parishan of near Kazerun.SID Akhalaghi (2001) found the were given. It was suggested that differences in life nematode Anguillicola crassus in swim bladders of span between Iranian and Turkish fish could be due this fish from Lake Parishan. Jalali et al. (2002) and to habitat differences (lotic and lentic habitats) or Jalali & Barzegar (2006) record Diplostomum fishing pressure. spathaceum, Trichodina pediculus, Ichthyophthirius Food: The flexible snout is used for sniffing out food multifilis, Mastacembelocleidus heteranchorus, two but the eye structure suggests a visually feeding fish species of Argulus, Lernaea cyprinacea, a also. Food is assumed to include invertebrates but Polyonchobothrium species and an Ancyrocephalus two fish from Iran contained fish scales and fish sp. from this species in Lake Zarivar. Barzegar et al. skeletal remains. Other species are known to eat fish (2008) record the digenean eye parasite eggs and fry. Food in the Hawr al Hawizah, Iraq in Diplostomum spathaceum from this fish. Jalali et al. 7

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(2008) examined this fish in lakes Zarivar and polluted areas and is not commonly caught or Parishan and the Helleh River and found the utilised. Its conservation status has not been assessed protozoans Trichodina pediculus and in field studies but it is probably not under any threat. Ichthyophthirius multifilis (Zarivar), the The IUCN (2014) list it as of Least Concern. monogenean Mastacembelocleidus heteranchorus However, it is listed as critically endangered in (all three localities), the digenean Diplostomum Turkey (Fricke et al. 2007) and as vulnerable in the spatheceum (Zarivar), the crustaceans Argulus Tigris River (FAO 2014) although this study did not foliaceus, Argulus sp., Lernaea cyprinacea and encompass Iran. Lernaea sp. (all Zarivar), the cestode Sources: Further details on collections examined can Polyonchobothrium sp. (Zarivar), and the nematode be found in the museum catalogues. Contracaecum sp. (Parishan). Barzegar & Jalali Type material: BM(NH) 1955.6.25:4-6. (2009) reviewed crustacean parasites in Iran and Iranian material: CMNFI 1979-0029, 1, 148.0mm found Lernaea sp., Lernaea cyprinacea, Argulus standard length, Fars, Dalaki River (no other locality foliaceus and Argulus sp. on this species. data); CMNFI 1979-0075, 1, 252.0mm standard Rahemo (1989, 1990, 1997, 1998, 2002), length, Fars, Mand River at Pol-e Kavar (29º11'N, Rahemo & Mohammad (1998), Kritsky et al. (2004), 52º41'E); CMNFI 1979-0124, 1, 436.0mm standard Al-Janabi (2010) and Bashĕ et al. (2010) record length, Fars, Mand River at Shahr-e Khafr (28º56'N, parasites of this fish in Iraq and Öktener et al. (2006) 53º14'E); CMNFI 1979-0304, Fars, Lake Parishan in Turkey. (29º31’N, 51º50’E) (visual record); CMNFI 2007- Predators might find this species difficult to 0063, 1, 227.5mm standard length, Fars, Mand River swallow. The row of dorsal spines is very sharp and tributary outside Jahrom (28º36'N, 53º37'E); CMNFI can severely lacerate the hand when this fish is 2008-0120, 1, 219.2mm standard length, Khuzestan, picked up carelessly. Rud-e Zard at Rud Zard (31º22'N, 49º43'E); CMNFI Economic importance: Russell (1794) reported that 2008-0131, 3, 105.0- ca. 420.0mm standard length, this fish was "found in great abundance" and Khuzestan (no other locality data); CMNFI 2008- "esteemed a lighter and more delicate food" than the 0159, 2, 180.5-302.6mm standard length, Iran (no eel at Aleppo but it does not seem to be so common other locality data); CMNFI 2008-0262, 2, 201.5- in Iran or used generally as food. Heckel (1847) gives 262.3mm standard length, Fars, Noor Abad the common name "englisi" because it was highly (30º06’N, 51º24’E); ZSM 21831, 1, 584.5mm prized by Europeans at Aleppo. Foreign soldiers have standard length, Khuzestan, Harmaleh on Dez River caught this species by angling at Baghdad (31º57'N, 48º34'E); ZSM 26629, 1, 154.4mm (www.carpecapio.com, accessed 26 August 2005). standard length, Kordestan, Lake Zaribar (35º32'N, Olgunoğlu et al. (2010), HarlioğluArchive & Yilmaz (2011) 46º08'E). of SID and Taşbozan et al. (2013) note its local commercial Comparative material: BM(NH) 1875.1.14:7, 2, value in Turkey, analyse its chemical composition 341.8-569.1mm standard length, Iraq, Baghdad and nutritonal quality, and recommend it for human (33º21'N, 44º25'E); BM(NH) 1912.5.2:8, 1, consumption as a good source of nutrition. 314.3mm standard length, Iraq, Shatt-al-Arab (no Olgunoğlu (2011) determined the nutritional other locality data); BM(NH) 1920.3.3:297-300, 4, components of fresh and hot smoked spiny eel from 134.5-289.6mm standard length, Iraq, Basra Atatürk Dam Lake in Turkey, concluding that (30º30'N, 47º47'E); BM(NH) 1920.3.5:7, 1, smoking was not a suitable method because of low 103.8mm standard length, Iraq, Basra (30º30'N, fat content. 47º47'E); BM(NH) 1922.3.25:1, 1, 424.0mm Conservation: This species appears to thrive in standard length, Iraq, Baghdad (33º21'N, 44º25'E); 8

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BM(NH) 1936.3.10:4, 1, 40.0mm standard length, of spiny eel Mastacembelus mastacembelus from Iraq, Nasiriyah (31º02'N, 46º16'E); BM(NH) Greater Zab River in Iraq. Iranian Journal of 1974.2.22:1798, 1, 380.5mm standard length, Iraq, Veterinary Research, Shiraz University 11(1)(30): Basra (30º30'N, 47º47'E); BM(NH) 1974.2.22:1807- 18-27. 1808, 2, 132.5-414.7mm standard length, Iraq, Mosul Berra, T.M. 2001. Freshwater Fish Distribution. Academic Press, San Diego. xxxviii+604 pp. (36º20'N, 43º08'E); BM(NH) 1968.12.13:440-442, 3, Boulenger, G.A. 1912. A synopsis of the fishes of the 178.9-351.2mm standard length, Syria, Euphrates genus Mastacembelus. Journal of the Academy of River at Mayadine (35º01'N, 40º27'E). Natural Sciences Philadelphia 2(15): 197-203. Çakmak, E. 2008. Dikenli Yilan Baliği (Mastacembelus Acknowledgements mastacembelus)’nin Morfolojik ve Moleküler I am indebted to the Department of Biology, Shiraz Özelliklerinin Belirlenmesi [Determination of University and the Canadian Museum of Nature, morphological and molecular characters of spiny Ottawa for funding of research. Numerous colleagues eel (Mastacembelus mastacembelus)]. M.Sc. and co-authors assisted in developing the website on Thesis, University of Kahramanmaraş Sütçü Imam, Iranian fishes, providing specimens, data and Kahramanmaraş. xii+50 pp. photographs and are listed at www.briancoad.com. Çakmak, E. & Alp, A. 2010. Morphological differences among the Mesopotamian spiny eel,

Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Banks & Solander References 1794), populations. Turkish Journal of Fisheries & Abdoli, A. 2000. The Inland Water Fishes of Iran. Iranian Aquatic Sciences 10(1): 87-92. Museum of Nature & Wildlife, Tehran. 378 pp. In Coad, B.W. 1987. Zoogeography of the Freshwater Fishes Farsi. of Iran, pp. 213-228, 1 figure, 2 tables. In: Krupp, Akhlaghi, M. 2001. A report on infestation of Parishan F.; Schneider, W. & Kinzelbach, R. (eds.). Lake eels to the nematode Anguillicola crassus. Proceedings of the Symposium on the Fauna and Pajouhesh va Sazandegi 14(1)(50): 26-27. In Farsi. Zoogeography of the Middle East, Mainz, 1985. Al-Janabi, M.D.G. 2010. The relationship between Beihefte zum Tübinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients, feeding type and exposure to infection with some Reihe A (Naturwissenschaften), 28, Dr. Ludwig ectoparasites of marmarij Mastacembelus Reichert Verlag, Wiesbaden, 338 pp. mastacembelus in Baghdad. Iraqi Journal of Coad, B.W. 1996. Zoogeography of the fishes of the Veterinary Medicine 34(2): 170-175. In Arabic. Tigris-Euphrates Basin. Zoology in the Middle East Al-Rudainy, A.J. 2008. Atlas of Iraqi Fresh Water Fishes. 13: 51-70. Ministry of the Environment, Baghdad. 107 pp. In Coad, B.W. 1998. Systematic biodiversity in the English and Arabic. freshwater fishes of Iran. Italian Journal of Zoology Banister, K.E. 1980. The fishes of the Tigris and 65 (Supplement):101-108. (Proceedings of the Euphrates rivers, pp. Archive 95-108. In: Rzóska, J. ofNinth Congress SID of European Ichthyologists (CEI-9) Euphrates and Tigris, Mesopotamian ecology and "Fish Biodiversity" organised in Naples at the destiny. Monographiae Biologicae 38: x+122 pp. University Federico II and held in Trieste - Italy, Barzegar, M. & Jalali, B. 2009. Crustacean parasites of 24-30 August 1997). fresh and brackish (Caspian Sea) water fishes of Coad, B.W. 2010. Freshwater Fishes of Iraq. Pensoft Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science and Publishers, Sofia-Moscow. 294 pp., 16 colour Technology 11: 161-171. plates. ISBN 978-954-642-530-0, Pensoft Series Barzegar, M.; Raeisi, M.; Bozorgnia, A. & Jalali, B. 2008. Faunistica, 93, ISSN 1312-0174. Parasites of eyes of fresh and brackish water fishes Coad, B.W. 2014. Review of the Freshwater Catfishes of in Iran. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research, Iran (Order Siluriformes). Iranian Journal of Shiraz University 9(3)(24): 256-261. Ichthyology 1(4): 218-257. Bashĕ, S.K.R. & Abdullah, S.M.A. 2010. Parasitic fauna Coad, B.W. & Abdoli, A. 1996. Biodiversity of Iranian 9

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Mesopotamian spiny eel, Mastacembelus Sufi, S.M.K. 1957. Revision of the Oriental fishes of the mastacembelus (Banks & Solander in Russell, Family Mastacembelidae. Bulletin of the Raffles 1974) (sic) (Mastacembelidae), in southern Iran. Museum, Singapore 27: 93-146. Zoology in the Middle East 35: 43-47. Taşbozan, O.; Gökçe, M.A.; Çelik, M., Tabakoğlu, Ş.S.; Rahemo, Z.I.F. 1989. The parasites of the Iraqi Küçükgülmez, A. & Başusta, A. 2013. Nutritional spinybacks Mastacembelus simach (Walbaum, composition of spiny eel (Mastacembelus 1792). Second Science Conference Fisheries and mastacembelus) caught from the Atatürk Dam Lake Marine Research, Basrah, 16-17 May 1989 in Turkey. Journal of Applied Biological Sciences (abstract). 7(2): 78-62. Rahemo, Z.I.F. 1990. Cystibranchus mastacembeli Teimori, A.; Esmaeili, H.R. & Gholamhosseini, A. 2010. (Annelida: Hirudinea) from the Iraqi freshwater The ichthyofauna of Kor and Helleh River basins in spinyback, Mastacembelus simach (sic) (Walbaum, southwest of Iran with reference to taxonomic and 1792). Rivista di Parassitologia 6(1)(1989): 121- zoogeographic features of native fishes. Iranian 126. Journal of Biosystematics 6(1): 1-8. Rahemo, Z.I.F. 1997. Parasites of the Iraqi spinyback Travers, R.A. 1984a. A review of the Mastacembeloidei, Mastacembelus simach (Walbaum, 1792). Iraqi a suborder of synbranchiform teleost fishes. Part I: Journal of Biological Science 15: 42-52. Anatomical description. Bulletin of the British Rahemo, Z.I.F. 1998. Ultrastructural studies on the Museum (Natural History) Zoology 46(1): 1-133. piscine cestode, Senga mastacembeli Rahemo, Travers, R.A. 1984b. A review of the Mastacembeloidei, 1992. Rivista di Parassitologia 22(1): 104-105. a suborder of synbranchiform teleost fishes. Part II: Rahemo, Z.I.F. 2002. Scanning electron microscopy on Phylogenetic analysis. Bulletin of the British the scolex of Senga mastacembeli. Rivista di Museum (Natural History) Zoology 47(2): 83-150. Parassitologia 19(63): 61-65. Wheeler, A.C. 1956. The type species of Mastacembelus Rahemo, Z.I.F. & Mohammad, S.A. 1998. Ultrastructural and the second edition of Russell's "Natural History studies on the piscin cestode, Senga mastacembeli, of Aleppo". Bulletin of the Raffles Museum, Rahemo, 1992. Rivista di Parassitologia 15(1): 59- Singapore 27: 91-92. 66. Yazdani, G.M. 1990. Contribution to the fish fauna of Russell, A. 1794. Chap. III. Of Fishes, pp. 207-219, pls. India (including adjacent countries). Order VI-VII. In: Vol. II. The Natural History of Aleppo, Mastacembeliformes. Records of the Zoological containing a description of the city, and the Survey of India, Occasional Paper 124. principal natural productions in its neighbourhood together with an account of the climate, inhabitants and diseases; particularly of the plague. Second Edition by P. Russell. London. Volume I: xxiv + 446 pp., Appendix (xxiii) +Errata (1 page); Volume II: v+430 pp.,+AppendixArchive (xxxiv)+Index to both of SID volumes (25 pp., not numbered)+Errata (1 page). Sahinöz, E.; Aral, F. & Doğu, Z. 2007. Changes in Mesopotamian spiny eel, Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Bank & Solender (sic) in Russell, 1794) (Mastacembelidae) milt quality during a spawning period. Theriogenology 67(4): 848-854. Sahinöz, E.; Doğu, Z. & Aral, F. 2006. Development of embryos in Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Bank & Solander, 1794) (Mesopotamian spiny eel) (Mastacembelidae). Aquaculture Research 37(16): 1611-1616. 12

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