Iran. J. Ichthyol. (March 2016), 3(1): 1–18 Received: December 7, 2015 © 2015 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: February 5, 2016 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.7508/iji.2016.01.001 http://www.ijichthyol.org Review Article Review of Aphanius farsicus: a critically endangered species (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) in Iran Hamid Reza ESMAEILI1*, Mojtaba MASOUDI1, Mehregan EBRAHIMI2,3, Amir ELMI4 1Ichthyology and Molecular Systematics Lab., Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454 Iran. 2Behavioural Ecology Lab., Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454 Iran. 3School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia. 4Department of Environment, Tehran, Iran. * Email:
[email protected] Abstract: The systematics, morphology, phylogeny, distribution, biology, economic importance and conservation of the Fars tooth-carp, Aphanius farsicus of Iran are described, the species is illustrated, and a bibliography on this endemic, critically endangered species is provided. Iran and central Anatolia show the highest diversity of Aphanius, and 14 extant (including Aphanius farsicus, an endemic species in the endorheic Lake Maharlu basin, South-western Iran) and one fossil species are known to occur in Iran based on data derived from fish morphometry and meristics, otoliths, scales and mtDNA sequences. Human-induced disturbance or anthropogenic activities, including hydrological alteration, introduction of exotic species, intensive aquaculture industry, water pollution, rapid sedimentation, natural disturbance (climate change and drought) and also limited distribution, have forced Aphanius farsicus populations to the edge of extinction. Aphanius farsicus can benefit from a combination of reintroduction, assisted colonization and capture release which potentially increase success rate of a conservation management plan.